May 19, 2019 Text: Acts 11:1-18
Dear Friends in Christ,
Before
I share this true story with you, I need to say that Toni and I may not be Mr.
and Mrs. today if this had happened to us.
Here is what transpired.
In
October 2017, a stray dog crashed a wedding.
A couple named Matheus and Marilia were getting married in Brazil. They planned an outdoor wedding but rain
forced them under a tent. Unfortunately
for the guests, the storm brought a dog.
They tried to get the dog to leave but he kept coming back. Then he did the unthinkable plopped right
down on the bride’s dress during her vows and went to sleep. Surprisingly, the bride left him there. I think she was too frightened to move!
This
wasn’t the only “dog” that crashed a wedding.
Our text from the Book of Acts leads us to this Scriptural truth . . .
“SALVATION
FOR ALL – EVEN GENTILES”
The
Jews thought the Gentiles were dogs.
They had other names for them – heathen, outsiders, reckless. There was not a lot of love between these two
groups. That is why the Word concerning
the Gentiles and Peter’s vision was so shocking. This meant they – the Gentiles – could be
part of the wedding of Jesus and His bride, the Church!
This
shouldn’t be so shocking. Recall what
God said to Abraham: “I have made you
the father of a multitude of nations.” (Gen. 17:5b) Then there was the parable Jesus taught about
the wedding feast. The invited Jews
wouldn’t come so Jesus explained the king sent his servants to find other
guests on the roads and bring them so that the wedding hall would be
filled. And it was filled, even with
Gentiles. Those stray, unclean dogs!
This
was the thinking of the Jews. They let
Peter know, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” (v. 3) Don’t you know you don’t do that? They are Gentiles and we are Jews?
But
God included them. The Gentiles were on
the guest list and there would be room in heaven for them. Peter had to explain through his vision and
he gave evidence of the word of Jesus and then look what happened. They were convinced. They allowed for the dog.
Our
concluding verse tells us: “They
glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance
that leads to life.’” (v. 18) This was a bombshell and it shook the world
back then.
God’s
Word is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Because of that listen to this from the Book of Romans: “For there is no distinction between Jew and
Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call
on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Rom. 10:12-13) Christ died for all. The sins of the whole world were nailed to
the cross. Salvation is for all.
Now
that is big news. I must admit it. There will be Packers and Cardinal fans in
heaven. There will be people who right
now hate Jesus and the Church and His Word and they will be singing with us
around the throne of the Lamb. How do I
know this? Ever heard of Saul? Maybe you know him a little better as the
Apostle Paul. Scripture says he was
“breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” (Acts 9)
Just think if he had a blog today.
What would he be saying about us Christians? It wouldn’t be kind. But the Lord loved him and changed his
heart. Do you join with me in looking
forward to meeting him in your heavenly home?
I
know people on the outside of the Lord’s Church can bother us. I try to remind myself that they are
misguided just like Paul was. Why do the
agnostic and atheist fight so hard against Christ if they don’t believe in
Him? It’s because there is a flicker of
something bigger than them or they ponder the world and how it got here. The Lord hasn’t given up on them. Love them.
Pray for them. Put it in the
Lord’s hands, He can do the rest.
Doesn’t the Bible make this promise:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” It sure does!
Remember
the wedding crasher? It seems the dog
came and went. The reception went on as
planned. The dog finally
disappeared. But days later, the couple
found him . . . they cleaned him up . . . adopted him . . . and named him
Snoop. Who would have thought?
Then
again, who would have thought the Lord would find us, clean us up, and adopt us
into His family? Who would think the
Lord would give us a place at His table?
We commonly pray, “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest . . .” But we don’t make up the guest list. We are always Jesus’ guests at the heavenly
banquet table, always by His grace in giving His life for us. He loves us strays – who would have
thought? He may just be bringing others
guests to the table with Him. But as you
know . . . there is plenty of room for more.
Amen.
