Read: I John 5:6-13
Reflect: Our children were small. We received an invitation to a rain or shine Memorial Day picnic. The kids did not yet understand the significance of the holiday and that the gathering would commemorate lives sacrificed for our freedom. Their little minds just looked forward to a special time with friends, fun, and food. All they had to do was pile into the car and Mom and Dad would get them there.
The weather for the holiday was awful:uncharacteristically chilly, windy, and with periods of rain. We layered the children up, packed extra clothes, and headed to the event. My husband and I tag-teamed keeping an eye on the kids as they ran, climbed, slid, and stomped through the muddy monsoon.
THE NEEDED BATH
As the afternoon wore on, one thing became clear. The kids were dirtier than I had ever seen them. My toddler was so cold and dirty that I needed to bathe and redress him before he could sit down to eat. Graciously, our hosts led me to the bathroom where I plopped him in the tub, stripped his sopping wet dirty clothes, and washed his tiny body. I dressed him in warm dry clothes and cleaned the chunks of mulch and the ring of mud around the tub before rejoining the festivities.
I’ve thought about this story many times over the years and laughed at the memory of how dirty the kids were. A picture of my son from that day sits in my bedroom. I laugh out loud and cry tears of joy when I look at it. Then, a deeper truth begins to be revealed through it.
THE UPCOMING FEAST
THE Memorial Day of all Memorial days approaches! The Bible calls it the Marriage Feast of the Lamb and it will take place in heaven. The price of admission is paid by the sacrifice of one unique life. Our Savior, Jesus Christ. gave His life in exchange for our freedom.
GETTING READY FOR THE FEAST
Like my children, we lack the ability to fully comprehend the requirement needed for us to experience freedom, but especially eternal freedom like this. We often have our eyes on the event rather than what the day means. Sin has made us dirty, in need of washing. On our own, we are not ready for this Feast. Our filth isn’t something that can be taken care of by one simple bath in the tub. The stain of sin permeates our very being. Jesus’ blood alone can wash us clean. He even goes a step further. He then clothes us eternally with garments of salvation and righteousness. (1 John 1:7-9; Isaiah 61:10)
YOUR INVITATION
Would you like to be part of the biggest celebration of eternity? All attending are beloved and cherished guests. Accept God’s invitation – He will safely get you there. The way is provided for us to attend the marriage feast of the Lamb! (Revelation 19:7-10; John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 6:18) This will be the best Eternal Memorial Day ever. God offers the transportation, the cleansing, and the new life. Have you accepted it? He offers a special seat just for you.
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (I John 5:12-13)