The Night No One Showed Up

The Night No One Showed Up

The invites had been delivered, the house cleaned, soft music played and the diffuser was putting the delightful scents of fall into the air. The table was spread with sundry treats and swag bags were waiting to be claimed.

Everything was ready, food bought and prepared, and nothing was lacking to make this a great evening.

The door was flung open wide and all that was needed were the guests, we were ready!

The clock ticked.

It tocked.

The chimes sounded.

I peeked out the door for the new friends that would surely be coming soon.

I wave hi to a jogger who doesn’t see me, her music is playing and her thoughts are within.

A car drives by but his thoughts are straight ahead.

The clock hands continue to move and it becomes apparent that the living room will remain empty tonight. There won’t be guests, or new friends this time.

Has that ever happened to you? Have you reached out for one purpose or another and found no response? It’s a letdown and disappointing. I had something very fun to share and wanted to give of myself for a bit, but there was no interest.

The night no one showed up really made me think though… 

Someone else has prepared a meal, a palace, a place where we will be welcomed and embraced. Nothing is lacking, the price has been paid and our invites are sealed in blood.

He’s waiting for us to come, his call rings true. Will you come, will you accept the invite?

Or maybe like me, you’ve accepted the invite but your actions don’t always show it. You see, I have an invite to the greatest wedding feast in the universe, and not only am I invited, I am the guest of honor.

Shouldn’t I be preparing as well? Shouldn’t I be living conscious of that fact and my actions revealing that I have been chosen as part of Christ’s holy bride?

A bride lives in expectation of her wedding day. She invites others to join her. She prepares for her new life. Her face is aglow and she is ready to tell anyone who will listen about her groom. Everyone who knows her, knows who she is giving herself to.

Is it that way with me? Does everyone who knows me, know I belong to the King of Kings? That I am God’s chosen and elect; the bride of Christ? Am I inviting others to join me on this special day?

Too many times I do not live mindfully of who I am in Christ. And perhaps my forgetfulness of what Christ has done for me, leaves him feeling sad and hurt, similar to myself when our living room remained empty that night.

I want to live with purpose. A purpose to shine the light of the gospel no matter where I am. A purpose to honor God and encourage my fellow man.

Have you ever had an experience similar to the night no one showed up here? Did it make you think too?