There’s still a place. Thank God the opportunity to get in a place at the table is still available. Churches all over the world will meet today. Somewhere, someone will respond to the gospel. One person will accept the Lord as Savior. How do you know there’s a place for you? The church is still here. That means there’s still opportunity to accept the Lord. It means there is still a seat at the table that can be your seat. It’s up to you whether you take your place.
Luke 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Yesterday my brother and his wife insisted that I go to Bonanza with them. What a buffet! You order and pay first. My brother insisted on paying for mine. It was there and ready. And free to me. I would have missed out if I hadn’t gone. There is a table spread out far better than any down here. Everything is prepared and the table is set.
The lord in this story was rich and could have any food imaginable. The cooks prepared it. The servants set the table. The invitations were sent out. All the people had to do was come and enjoy all they could eat. Last night at the buffet there was everything. I ate and ate. I wish we’d be that hungry for the Lord. His food isn’t stale. The Bible isn’t old and ineffective. What Jesus did for us is still effective and provides a table of salvation whose sacrifice is still as fresh as it ever was. Jesus paid the price for us to be born again and bought us from the slavery of Satan and sin. We have been birthed into the family of God. There is a seat for us to come and dine. Three weeks after the resurrection the disciples went fishing. It got them into trouble. That’s what we try to do. If they would have just waited on the Lord. Instead they did it on their own and fished all night and caught nothing. We’ve lost our vision and our first love. He’s lost his meaning. The house of God doesn’t move us and we want to blame someone else. It’s not the preacher’s or anyone else’s fault if your place at the table is empty. It’s your fault.
Instead of people graciously accepting the invitation, they made excuses; one said he’d bought land; another had bought oxen; and another had gotten married. Are these good excuses? Well, their seat went empty. Whatever excuse we use for not feeding on God, for not praying, is it good enough? How often do we come to the table of God? How many times a day do we eat? We need the Lord just like we need to eat. How much more we need him! Remember this: an excuse is something you feel is important that keeps you from something that really is important. Nothing is more important than the table of God. What keeps you away? There’s still room. If you’re lost, away from God, come and take your place. Christian, come and take up your place again. Many have done it. Are you enjoying it? Or are you like these people who said “I would….but….” The best thing we can do is spend time at the Master’s table. If there’s ever a time we need him, it is now. Hallelujah! There’s a place at the table!
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 