Reclining at Wisdom’s Table

We “good” people are filled with poor excuses. A host sends out invitations and assures all guests that a spot has been made just for them at his table, in her home, or in our congregations. We trust that the invitation itself will prove that they are wanted in the prepared spot, and if the invitation isn’t reassurance enough, we tell them with our words: There is a place here for you; you are wanted here!

Yet deep in our hearts on the receiving side, we are convinced that there must be some mistake, and so we reach into our box of handy excuses. Or perhaps we don’t even show up at all. At the critical moment when all the guests have gathered, the banquet is perfectly timed and laid out on the feasting table and the host opens his arms in welcome—there is a glaring spot open, made vacant by excuse and priority. And thus, we play out in daily life the scene our Lord describes to us in Scripture of the reality of His invitation, and what He will do when excuses are made: “Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet” (Luke 14:22–24).

Of the many truths He assures us in this passage, one stands out: He will fill His house with His own. Although He came to “His own” called Israel and many resisted Him as Messiah, those He drew to His table found their seats and dined with the King.

When we answer Wisdom’s call in the now, we embrace Christ’s ingathering of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues to worship around His glorified body on the throne.

The people traveling the world’s highways and byways are diverse. The people of the world encompass languages, tongues, and tribes, yet they all have one thing in common: the same sin-sickness of the soul born in the garden of Eden. They also have in common Wisdom’s voice calling to the great banqueting hall, yet those whose ears are only tuned to the call of Folly will present every clever reason to remain in Folly’s cold, self-satisfying embrace.

The kingdom will be filled with human variety, with the promise made to Abraham long ago: that he would father a nation as vast and varied as the sands, a people blessed to be a blessing to the world around them. If you hear Wisdom’s call today, do not delay your inevitable, irresistible entry into this House of Life; as has been told us for generations, you must come in by and through the Lamb.

While the Bible tells us Christ was ethnically Jewish, it also tells us that He is the true and perfect human. As He gathers the nations to Himself, He stands as the perfect African American, African, or European; the perfect Asian, Latin American, Pacific Islander, and so on, with all ethnicities. He issues His call in every language, so that every ear is guaranteed to hear. That’s how much He longs to see us seated at His table, in communion with Him.

As Creator and Lord of the nations and the only perfect participant among them, Christ identifies with each nation with such complete-ness, depth, and totality that only He is able to ultimately consummate and bring them into harmony. When we answer Wisdom’s call in the now, we embrace Christ’s ingathering of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues to worship around His glorified body on the throne.

Though race and ethnicity in and of themselves are neither holy nor profane, they are our divinely designed reality and therefore they are precious gifts from our Creator Christ. But out of this many, one will come through our union with Him. When we meet Christ in glory, His kingdom will be established as the preeminent tribe, as we are made one new people. We’ll receive the redemption of even our earthly identities, and marvel at the vast riches of the banqueting table with thanks-giving, reverence, and awe.

It’s around this table that the invisible church is made visible, and we see that while we are many, we are truly one.

And it was Christ’s wisdom that foresaw and foretold our new, perfected “very good.”