Your Invitation. RSVP! - Revelation 22
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:12-13)
As I write this, elaborate preparations are under way for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The after party at Frogmore House, Windsor is sure to be an amazing party. Although it is in one sense a very public occasion and is sure to be watched by millions of people all around the world, the wedding itself will be very intimate. Harry and Meghan have chosen venues that are full of meaning for them personally and (by Royal standards) relatively small. Only 600 guests have been invited to the wedding and lunch, and only 200 to the evening party. Prime Ministers, Presidents and all manner of important, great people and people loosely known by the couple will miss out. So how did Harry and Meghan decide who to invite? Royal sources said that the list was restricted to those who have a direct relationship with the couple.
The Bible ends with an invitation to the greatest party in history. Everyone is invited to have a direct relationship with Jesus and all those who do are able to come. In a sense, the whole Bible has been leading up to this moment. The whole Bible is a wedding invitation for you to read and respond to. I can’t imagine anyone receiving a wedding invitation to Harry and Megan’s wedding and failing to cancel any other plans they had to be able to accept the invitation, responding straight away with great joy and excitement. Will you and I do the same to this wedding invitation extended to us by Jesus and the Church? Remarkably, we are actually invited to then reign with Jesus for ever (Revelation 22:5)!
Every wedding reception involves honouring the married couple and all involved with many toasts as expensive wine is lavished upon the guests. Jesus inaugurated his ministry in this way at the Wedding at Cana where he turned water in to wine. Now, as Revelation, indeed the whole Bible, moves to its finale at this great party, we see the one at the centre of it all – Jesus – encouraging us all to raise our glasses and receive his LOVE, to drink his soul-thirst-quenching living water. The best way to enjoy good wine is to make sure you drink plenty of water with it. The drinks at Jesus’ wedding feast may be freely received by the guests, but they cost LOVE everything he had to give, his life, given for us. So raise your glass in joy, thanks and honour to Jesus! Celebrate! Shout praises to LOVE! And swig away. Down it. And keep coming back to LOVE for endless free refills and down those too.
“The Spirit (God) and the Bride (the Church) say ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let them come; and whoever wishes, let them take the free gift of the water or life.” (Revelation 22:17)
Congratulations! We have made it to the end. It has been such a joy to pray through the Bible with you over these last 50 days during our Prayer50.
