No! Versus a Welcome Invitation

No Fishing! No Littering! No Trespassing! No Swimming! No Loitering! These are various notices on signs in our everyday journey of life.  You and I could come up with many more “Do Nots” or “You are Forbidden” warnings such as these.  To the majority of folks, we understand the importance of abiding by the command and instruction of the law implied.  Life is filled with many clear-cut imperatives for safety, the good of the public, and just proper private ownership.

Let’s face it though, there is something in our odd human nature that doesn’t like to be told “no”.  From the time we are little children being told “no cookies from cookie jar” to the “no” from a declined job offer or to a rejection from being included in some event we desire to attend.  We are all aware of the moral compass that our Creator has placed within us that holds us in check and tells us “No” to any desire that is not wholesome or right.  We also have God’s clear teaching, specifically The Ten Commandments that we sometimes call the “Thou Shalt Not” list.  Of course these are boundaries God has set for all our good, yet all of us have broken at least some of them.  Principles set by God to teach us we need his mercy and forgiveness.  “None Righteous – Not one!” we find in the Bible. 

Thankfully because our Creator loves us, we find a dramatic invitation to come humbly yet boldly to God for His gift of restoration through Christ Jesus (who abided by every “Thou Shalt Not”).

I love this verse in Revelation, “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” Revelation 22:17 

Have you taken God up on this invitation ever or lately? 

I pray that you will today, Pastor Larry