“‘Scuse me. ‘Scuse me.  You the host or whatever?”

“I am the Maître d’.  Good evening, sir.  How may I be of assistance?”

“I don’t like to complain, but you people have some of the rudest help I’ve ever seen.”

“I’m sorry, sir.  Did a waiter or waitress give offense?  The servers are my responsibility.”

“That’s just it.  I’ve been waiting for over two hours now, and my party still hasn’t been seated.  The front desk ignores me—”

“Guest reception is also under me.  If you would kindly return with me to that area, I would be happy to find out what the problem is and resolve it for you.”

“‘Bout time!”

“If you’ll just step this way, sir…”

“My wife used to tell me about this place all the time.  She said the food is out of this world, the décor so elegant, the furnishings so luxurious…The staff are perfect angels and the music, simply divine.  The rumors don’t do it justice.  It really is heaven—people just dyin’ to get in…”

“Very humorous, sir.  Most original.”

“It was always her dream to come here for a big event, like a weddin’ reception or somethin’ and sit down to a fabulous feast.  That was her idea of the ultimate.  But I gotta tell you, Bub—frankly, I just don’t see it.”

“No?”

“First of all, there was nowhere to park my car.  No one to greet me when I arrived.  While I’ve been standing here like a fool, some folks were welcomed like dignitaries and immediately shown to the high tables.  Others like me are left sittin’ around for eternity.  You have no idea when your name might be called.  And the staff doesn’t seem the least bit concerned.  It’s probably just as well, since only God could afford what all this must’ve cost.”

“Your mistreatment is unforgiveable.  I shall demand an explanation and an apology.  Then we will discuss how to make things right.”

“Now you’re talking!  This oughta be good.”

“Pardon me, monsieur, but I think it best that I confer privately with the night captain.”

“Better late than never, I guess.”  Mere moments passed.  Then, “Back so soon?  You only just left!  What’d he say?”

“He said you are not on the list.”

“Not on the list?  That’s it?  I’m ‘not on the list?’  You gotta be kidding me!”

“I’m sorry, sir.  There is nothing I can do for you.”

“Nothing you can—”

“Are you now claiming to have a reservation?”

“If I didn’t have reservations before, I certainly have them now, if you follow me.  What’s this nonsense about a list?  What list?”

“The proprietor keeps a ledger, a book consisting of a list of the names of all faithful customers of his establishment.  Patrons whose names are found written in his book are not only guaranteed a free seat at his table, but they’re treated like members of the royal family, just as though they’d actually been adopted and deserving of a share of the inheritance.  All of this and much, much more is permanently reserved for them.  If your name doesn’t appear on the list, then the owner doesn’t know you, doesn’t recognize you as a friend and supporter of his enterprise.  If your name is not on the list, you are not an invited guest, but a trespasser.  In that case, nothing is reserved for you—and you are to be denied entrance to the banquet room.”

“I don’t think that’s any way to run a business.”

“But it’s his property and his operation, not yours—to speak candidly, sir.  Regardless, there is no place for you here and I’m afraid I must ask you to leave.”

“Just like that, eh?”

“Just like that.”

“What if I could prove that there’s been a mistake, that I really belong on the list and should have been invited?”

“Some try to go that route, once they learn that their name is not on the list.  They insist that they are worthy and try to challenge the owner’s authority to ban them.  In their personal opinion, their pedigrees, portfolios, reputations, experiences or the gourmet clubs to which they belong entitle them to come in.  They even call on their fellow trespassers to speak up for them, as if that would help their case, somehow.  But it’s the owner’s son who’s in charge of the book, and if you haven’t got HIM on your side, vouching for you, verifying that you’re one of his own…  If he doesn’t know you personally, trust me, you’re not getting in.”

“Wait!  Who is this son of his?  Where can I find him?  How can I get in touch?  How can I make sure my name is written in his book?”

“I thought you might never ask.  Allow me to escort you out.   I’ll explain on the way.”

*****

[Jesus said]  “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  (Matthew 7:21-23 emphasis added)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  (Ephesians 2:11-12 emphasis added)

“And I [the Apostle Paul] intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” (Philippians 4:3 emphasis added)

[Jesus said] “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.“  (Revelation 3:5 emphasis added)

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”  (Revelation 20:11-12 emphasis added)

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15 emphasis added)

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 transform 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)
• “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”  (Isaiah 59:2)
• “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.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  (Romans 10:9-10)
• “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)