Everyone…

How many places do you frequent where EVERYONE is welcome?

How often do you encounter the sense that EVERYONE has truly been invited?

Is this statement in the Bible too good to be true?

Paul, the Apostle, was the author of this letter to Roman Christians, and so it was Paul who penned these words, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Here Paul harkened back to the prophet Joel, quoting his words of encouragement to those living in the dreadful days of disaster.

If it were Paul extending the invitation, perhaps we would have reason to be skeptical. Even if we thought the prophet Joel was presenting the opportunity to all people, we might wonder if he truly meant everyone. But Paul was humbly the messenger of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. He was honored to have the privilege of extending Christ’s invitation to the Roman believers, Jew and Gentile alike.

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Who, but the creator of all things and beings, has the right to invite everyone in?

We’re so skeptical in our world, aren’t we? We think anything so easy just can’t be real. Most of us honestly do not know how to simply receive a gift. Me included. I always want to offer something in return. I feel I owe something in order to feel worthy of receiving the generosity of another.

If you are skeptical about the legitimacy of this all inclusive proclamation, may I urge you to do your homework? Read the Bible for yourself. Ask God to reveal His true identity to you. Open your heart and mind to the possibility that the invitation is for you.

The truth is that without Christ we’re without hope. Without Christ we struggle and strive and work for something we can call good. But only He is truly good. And, if we’re being honest with ourselves, doing life our way under our own set of rules, isn’t really very satisfying, is it?

“For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Christ Jesus holds out an invitation to everyone who will receive it. EVERYONE. All are welcome. You, even as you read this message, call on the name of the Lord Jesus, and find out for yourself how and where He will meet you. See how He will welcome you into His family. Feel the love and hope He will bestow on your weary mind and body.