When the Music Stops

In the children’s game of musical chairs, when the music stops, we compete for space … for seats. It’s a strange game in which everyone loses except one. Ironically, in this childish game, it seems that after being declared the winner, that person is somehow thought less of by those who lost their chair. Rarely would you hear someone who lost saying, “Yay, someone else won!”.

I had a love : hate relationship with the game. I was reasonably good at it because I could muscle my way into a chair, but I quickly learned that “winning” the chair meant socially losing the moment.

There is another way, but only if those in the game cooperate. If players circle up, come in close to help each other, they can all win. The entire group can sit down at the same time on the knees of the person behind them. No chairs taken away. Everybody wins. No losers.

Games aside, for every one of us, there will be a day in which the music stops. The day will come in which our position before the Lord is finalized. Each and every one of us will die unless Jesus returns beforehand. Because of illness, some know that it’s coming quickly. Others don’t. Regardless, when the music stops, we must have already prepared; we must know whether there is a place prepared for us in heaven or whether we will be forever cast out.

Scripture makes several illustrations of God preparing a place for us. “You prepare a table before me … I will dwell in the house of the Lord”, proclaims Psalm 23:5-6. Jesus tells His disciples in John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself …”.

Will you have a chair at God’s table, or will you be forever separated from God’s presence, alone in your sin and regret? If not, there is hope in Jesus and Jesus alone.

If your place in heaven has been secured by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, will you help others find their place at God’s table?

The world would have us compete, but God tells us he has chairs for everyone … come to my table. In the family of God, we’re not competing for space. We can – we must – invite others in. There’s more than enough room for everyone.

It is our job, as part of the mission of God, to tell others about the saving grace of Jesus Christ so that they can live in peace with Him, forever. It is our obligation to come in close, and help others find a seat at the table of the Lord.

On September 25th, from 9:00-12:00 in the Fellowship Hall, we want to help you become better equipped to invite others into God’s Kingdom. Please plan to attend this Evangelism Training to learn and practice methods of sharing the gospel in today’s culture. While the music still plays, we must help others find their seat.