That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:15
A member of parliament where we used to live put on an annual picnic for his organization. He extended an open invitation to everybody who wanted to come, and he would get huge crowds. There were games and treats for children, hotdogs and hamburgers aplenty, watermelon, horseshoe games for the men and women, and many other activities, including groups who would gather in clumps and hold lively discussions. It really was an open invitation, and anybody could show up. Nobody was guarding the gate to check credentials. The event was a wonderful public relations exercise for the MP, and boosted his popularity nicely. As wonderful and free as his invitation was, it certainly does not compare with the wonderful and free invitation in today’s text! We often wonder why it is not more popular.
Cynical people or those of different political persuasions might ignore or avoid the MP’s annual picnic. Maybe they would assume there would be strings attached or obligations involved. Is that why the Gospel invitation as described in our text is not more popular? The text is very clear, the only obligation is to believe, just as the only obligation at the MP’s picnic was to attend. But too many people assume they have to bring along their works, their donations, their religion, their good neighbourliness, or whatever. But there is no admission price required for the sinner to enter God’s salvation; the admission has been fully paid. And yet, such a glorious invitation goes wanting for respondents every time the Gospel is preached. It just isn’t a popular invitation out there.
But there is one group for whom the invitation is always popular and precious. Just as the politician’s picnic was a delightful place for all those who attended, so too God’s salvation is a wonderful place for all those who have entered into it. We have the Saviour’s promise of everlasting mercy, in that we will never perish. We also have His promise of everlasting grace, in that we have eternal life. In between mercy and grace are all the wonderful blessings that come with being the apple of God’s eye, and of being the residence of the Holy Spirit, and of having all the treasures of the Word of God, the fellowship of the Lord’s people, and the peace that passeth all understanding. Such great salvation is worth celebrating and sharing.
If the blessings of our text are so wonderful, why are we not more excited about them than we are? -Jim MacIntosh