The French phrase, répondez s’il vous plaît, meaning, “respond, if you please” or just, “please reply,” serves some very practical purposes.  When its abbreviation (RSVP) appears on an invitation, with or without a due date, etiquette demands a prompt answer as to whether the guest(s) will be in attendance at the designated function.  For the courtesy-challenged (those who lack the necessary consideration to timely declare their intentions), this custom may be worth a quick review.

Though regarded as a bit formal and or antiquated these days, RSVP is typically appended to invitations to significant occasions, like wedding ceremonies, receptions, galas, banquets and major celebrations.  It may also appear on invitations to exclusive events, such as a private dinner party with VIPs or art gallery showings not yet open to the public.  

Regardless of the nature of the affair, responses to a somewhat pointed request for a reply are useful for approximating how many guests to expect.  This information is a vital input to venue selection, space planning, assuring adequate parking, and so on.  It is not uncommon in fact, for RSVP messages to inquire who, exactly, may be coming and their special needs or preferences in food and drink.  This kind of intel not only enables suitable catering and beverage service, but is indispensable to making seating arrangements with which guests will be most comfortable. 

Yet despite the obvious and undeniable benefits of prompt response to a request for a reply, many fail to offer one.  While some may be rude or thoughtless, others may have legitimate reasons for failing to tip their hand, such as uncertainty over the speed of recovery from illness or surgery, or doubts about their ability to reconfigure work or travel schedules.  Still others may simply be waiting until the last moment to commit themselves, in case a better offer is received in the interim.

This radio silence leaves the issuer of the invitation in a quandary and may even force awkward personal follow-up, to ascertain status.  Was the invitation received?  Are there questions or concerns about it?  Has the invitee replied?  By what means?  When?  Is the invitation accepted or declined?  

If you have not repented of your sins and placed your trust and hope in Jesus Christ, this is one such awkward moment.  Jesus has issued you a divine invitation, but according to official records, your reply is still pending.  This is doubtless a mere oversight, but the delay is unaccounted for.  You could never have mislaid or forgotten an invite like this one.  Come to think of it, there has never been an invitation like this one.  It starts out:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

It’s a big reception—so fantastic, you can’t even imagine it [“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)]  The venue is heavenly.   Will we see you there?

Then it’s off to the Father’s house.  Can’t miss it.  It’s huge.   Must be like, a jillion rooms.  Each suite is custom made for each of us, by Jesus, Himself.  And get this—our rooms are ours to keep—FOREVER.  It’ll be a glorious day.  Absolutely glorious.  Are you going to be there?  Our Host is very concerned.  It’s still not too late to accept.  But if you plan on coming, I wouldn’t keep putting it off, not for one minute. ‘Not to decide is to decide,’ as they say.

But wait till I tell you some of the features!  First of all, God Himself is going to be there, live and in person.  He’s going to hang out with us the entire time [Revelation 7:15, 21:3].  Where He lives, it’s like…another world [Revelation 21:1]. Only those faithful to God are allowed in [Revelation 22:14-15, 21:7-8], those whose names are written in Jesus’ book of life [Revelation 21:27].  There’s no weeping there, let me tell you; no more death, sorrow, or pain [Revelation 21:4].  God makes everything new [Revelation 21:5].  

His place is in a brand new city, sparkling and breathtakingly beautiful [Revelation 21:2].  The city’s foundations are garnished with precious stones in different hues [Revelation 21:19-20].  It’s enclosed by high walls that are totally transparent and radiant, like diamonds or something [Revelation 21:17-18].  It has a dozen gates, each one made of a single, enormous pearl [Revelation 21:21]. These gates remain open at all times, so the glory and honor of the nations can be brought in [Revelation 21:24-26].   This city never sleeps.  It’s always bustling with activity.  

The entire city is made of pure gold—even the streets! [Revelation 21:18, 21]  And its size—about 1,500 miles on each side, and the height is the same [Revelation 21:16].  What a sight!  Can’t wait to see it.  Will you be meeting us there?  You ARE coming, of course?  Don’t tell me you’d let an opportunity like this go by!

Let’s talk refreshments.  A crystal clear RIVER of the water of life cascades forth from the throne of God, Father and Son, and on its banks, on both sides, stands the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a different fruit each month [Revelation 22:1-2].  I tell you, it’s paradise.  

God offers all who are thirsty today, to drink freely from the fountain of the water of life [Revelation 21:6].  His invitation still stands, at least for the moment.  Remember the way He closed it: “And the Spirit and the bride [of Christ—His Church] say, Come.  And let Him that heareth say, Come.  And let him who is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” [Revelation 22:17]

So, are you coming?  It would be a shame to miss out on all this (and much more), when you could easily have acknowledged and accepted the invitation Jesus died on the cross to give you.  As things stand, however, this is the tragic reality you face.  The requested ‘reply by’ date is today.  The deadline is now.  I urge you—no, I beg you—leap at this chance.  Kindly RSVP.  Reserve your spot.  I pray that I may spy your joyous face in the crowd on that stupendous day.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words, and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams, and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)