Invitation

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  John 14:2

My friend is on vacation and sending me photos of her views. Beautiful scenery: so relaxing and serene. The best part is that she’s at the height of joy with her family. I send back my messages of pure jealousy from my office setting. I am truly thankful for where I am – with my job and life. However, there’s always something about the gorgeousness of the getaway – and the joy of being “with” that makes us passionately long to be in the scene. Almost immediately, she sends back dates with a message: “I’ve booked us a room to be here – just you and me. Are you in?” Suddenly, the dream becomes an invitation. All because my friend said, “I want you to be here with me.”

“Well?” She says, “Are you in?” “Absolutely – I’m in!” It’s sacrifice for both of us, as all things in beauty are, but we are worth the sacrifice to experience the scene together. It’s a ways off in the future, but the reservations are made and the trip is secure. Life will happen in between, but now, there’s a difference to the days: "I want" turned to "I will." Joy settles into the mundane, knowing that by my friend’s invitation and my acceptance, I’m going to be in the scene that’s on my screen.

How much more is the destination that is so amazing it’s indescribable? We all want to be there. We’ve all been invited. But we don’t all accept? What part of the invitation is not understood? Are we too busy looking for fine print to RSVP? The invitation is as clear as crystal; our interpretation is what’s cloudy. The invitation is not an all-expense paid trip for a family of four to soak in the spoils of earth’s glory. It's universally, infinitely more. It's also personal. The invitation is from one to one. The invitation comes with great sacrifice from both. The invitation is bought, each and every one, in the Sender's blood Sacrifice. It’s very real and very unconditional, but acceptance requires Covenant. The ultimate Covenant. The destination, as glorious and beautiful beyond imagination as it is, is not the actual invitation. The invitation is this: “Come Home with Me.”

The invitation is actually a Marriage Proposal: “Be with Me Always.” Literally always. Not because of glorious scenery, but because of Love. Be with Me now, be with Me Always. Betrothal to Christ is complete Covenant that requires sacrifice of pride, control, self – all mud puddles that block an ocean. This is where the invitation is often tragically denied. We would rather settle and deny all our heart truly desires than trust Love. We would rather trust all we see now rather than trust all we don’t see to come. We literally choose the shack of now to the Honeymoon Home of Eternity because at least for now, we hold the keys. Then, in the dark of no one knows where or when, the reality for each one is the keys melt away and the shack melts into the dark. For now, without having any idea of the glorious “with” or the terrifying “without,” the invitation remains from Love: the only One who truly knows where the glory and terror of both. There is no great debate that lays out options to choose from based on speculations: there is only an invitation to true union.

Knowing my invitation from both my Saviour and my friend is answered “Yes, I will” – my days until then are living in the “Yes, I am.” I don’t need to know tomorrow, I just live in today. It sounds so simplified, and it is purposely simple. Knowing that an Oceanside retreat is reserved, I look for the everyday moments to see the unseen. The days are not devoid of beauty; the acceptance of the invitation opens the door for beauty to flood in by faith alone. Here and now. Not on demand, but as reminders of “yes” and “with.” What is truly devoid is only when I deny and beauty fades into the dark of my denial.

All are welcome. The invitation is open. Are you in?

Clean

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7

An explosion of black ash. Not a volcano; my espresso machine. My first clue that something was amiss was when it wasn’t brewing espresso. Frustration turned to realization that it was clogged and was protecting me from drinking a polluted beverage. Very polluted. I began the process of applying the cleansing solution and that’s when the blackness erupted. The solution released the clog and poured the blackness that would have been mistaken for goodness, had it not been for the cleansing. It took a few cycles until the water was once again clear and clean. I even looked for replacements, if the cleansing didn’t work. But, thankfully, it did work and all was well once again.

Then, I saw my heart in the white cup. I saw how I was clogged and refusing to release because of layers of black vile that I didn’t even know were there. I saw how, if I weren’t for the crucified cleansing applied to me, I would still be layered in ash. How I wouldn’t have pure waters to flow. There is no way I could cleanse myself. The only thing I could do is accept the cleansing – as long as it took – until I was pure for goodness to flow again. And that cleaning needs to happen on a refulat basis to stay pure and healthy - not to wait until something appears wrong. By then it could be far too late and very dangerous. I could have mixed black water with brewed coffee and never known the difference. If vile becomes my normal, then it's too late. Ash accumulates over time – it’s not preventable, but it is cleanable. I’m not replaceable, but I am redeemable.

Unfortunately, the only way to know the inner chambers are vile is for pressure to reveal the release – or in this case – the blockage. Sometimes, what looks like frustration is actually a protection. It’s all in perspective. If the results aren’t coming forth, perhaps I need to examine the heart’s condition and rectify. The cleansing isn’t pretty – in fact, it’s pretty disgusting. But persistence pays off and the results are glorious! Nothing greater than clean and coffee!