When planning a party, one of the first decisions to make is the guest list. We have to decide who will be included in the party we are throwing. Some parties have very exclusive and short guest lists. Other parties have extensive and inclusive guest lists. When it comes to the invitation that God offers to spend eternity with Him in Heaven forever, no one is left off this invitation. His invitation is for everyone. The question is whether or not they will accept that invitation.
The apostle Paul explains clearly that God's desire is for every single person to spend eternity with Him in 1 Timothy 2. In this passage of Scripture, Paul began by calling Timothy to pray “for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” (verse 2). Praying for leaders in authority, Paul taught, "is good and pleases God our Savior" (verse 3). Then he wrote an essential truth about God. He wrote that God "wants everyone to be saved" (verse 4). Indeed, God desires that everyone would turn to Him and place their faith in Him. Because of His love for every person who has ever existed and will exist, God wants them to place their faith in Christ and spend eternity with Him.
God’s desire is for everyone to come to have faith in Him and spend eternity with Him, and He has done everything to rescue all of humanity. We, however, have to accept His invitation. Everyone who accepts Jesus' invitation of eternal life and places their faith in Him will spend eternity with Him in Heaven forever. Those who do not will spend an eternity in torment separated from Him.
Every person we interact with is headed toward an eternity apart from Him unless they believe in Him and accept His invitation of eternal life. Let's make it our mission to bring the hope that they are looking for. After all, hope can only be found in Him.
Take time today to listen to your favorite worship song. Sing along with it and worship God. As you worship, praise Him for the gift of salvation and commit to spreading the hope of Christ with everyone around you.
1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For,
There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.
This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 7 And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.
8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.
9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.
11 Women should learn quietly and submissively. 12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them.Let them listen quietly. 13 For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.
