If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? (v. 3)
AN ASTONISHING INVITATION
The splendidly engraved invitation invites me to an audience with the king. Me? An audience with the king! Me? There must be some mistake! But there it is, unmistakably addressed to me and to anyone else I might invite to accompany me. What a thrill! Unbelievable! An awesome privilege!
But after the initial excitement wanes, troubling thoughts intrude. What am I going to wear? My clothes are threadbare. And even if I buy a brand-new outfit – the very best I can afford – I’ll still look shabby compared with the king’s rich robes and the elegant atmosphere of the royal court. It might appear disrespectful to meet with the king in inappropriate clothing. Not to mention that I’ll be embarrassed.
And what can I bring as a "hostess gift" to show my appreciation for the hospitality? I can’t afford to buy a truly appropriate gift. But I do have that collection of treasures I prize so dearly. Maybe something there would make a fitting gift. But when I look in my bag of baubles, I am appalled and embarrassed. There is nothing there to impress the king. Nothing! The king is wealthy beyond imagination. There isn’t a thing I can offer that he doesn’t already have in abundance. Alas! I am on the verge of despair.
Then I look again at the invitation and notice a sentence at the bottom near the request for RSVP. Can it be? Surely not. But there it is, in plain language
Wow! What a party the king is planning. I’d be foolish to pass it up!
Isn’t this a parable of God’s astonishing invitation to all sinners? God does mark iniquities, but then God offers a robe of Jesus’ righteousness to cover those iniquities.
As for the hostess gift, our Lord Jesus has already taken care of it. So I come empty-handed, just as I am.
My personal RSVP: Yes, Lord. Yes! Just as I am … I come.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your astonishing and gracious invitation to come to your heavenly party. Thank you again and again and again.
Wil Johnson
