I have been “saved” for twenty-three years. I’ve known it in my heart, but it was nebulous when I tried to explain it to others. My friends who hadn’t believed in Jesus would politely smile and say something like, “Whatever makes you feel good.” I knew they viewed my experience as something akin to a fairy tale and my lack of ability to put words to it only confirmed for them that it “wasn’t real”.
Then last year, I was studying John’s gospel with BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), and though I had studied the gospel of John before, the curriculum writers led me to consider a verse in chapter 14 that I had always just skimmed over. Here it is – Jesus is speaking:
“On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me and I am in you.” (John 14:20)
What? That is talking in circles! So I decided to diagram it. At first I had this:
God was represented by a big circle. Jesus said that He was in the Father, so Jesus got a second circle inside the first. Jesus said that the believer is in Him and He is in the believer. At first, I represented this as the believer in an intersecting circle with Jesus inside the larger “God” circle.
But then I realized that picture was incomplete. Jesus did not say that I am partially in Jesus and He is partially in me. That made me realize that Jesus and I occupy the same circle! Like this:
Having the two (Jesus and me) in the same circle made me think about marriage (the two shall become one). When I am one with Jesus, the Father sees Jesus when He looks at me (that is the only way I can be in the presence of a holy God).
The church (body of believers) is often referred to as the bride of Christ, and when Christ returns at the end of human history, we will all attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. I had always conceptualized this as the wedding, but it became clear to me in that moment, that a believer is married to Jesus the moment he or she believes. The marriage supper (the reception) can’t take place because the bride is not complete (the full number of believers has not yet been realized). So, at the end of human history, when there is no one left who hasn’t made their choice about Christ, all those who have ever believed will enjoy a huge party to celebrate the marriage.
If you have already made a decision to make Jesus the Lord of your life, then you are in covenantal relationship with Him (married) and are guaranteed a seat at the party!
If you haven’t made this crucial choice, you have no part in Christ, and the door will be shut. (see Matthew 25:1-13) Missing that celebration will mean eternal anguish for you – and why? Because you were too proud or too intellectual or too busy to really consider the claims of Jesus. I cannot stress enough that you are running out of time.
Those of us who have received our invitation would love to make room for you at the table.