Business

My oh my, it has been a long time since I have last blogged. It's incredible how busy life can be; how quickly our schedules can fill up with things. It is hard to balance everything that needs to be done. It just seems that there is not enough time in the day to do all that needs to be done. That gets me thinking. What am I doing with the time that I am given? Am I just being a busy body that isn't really doing anything of significance or importance? Just going through the motions of life? Same stuff, just a different day? Is this what life is supposed to look like? Or is there something more?

Our lives are a precious gift. Every moment, every breath is a gift from the Father. The mere fact that we are able to get up in the morning, in our right minds, and do what we need to do should be more than enough of a reason to give God the praise and the glory He is due. Have our lives become so busy that we can't even pause for a second to give God some praise? I must confess, I am guilty of this. It is easy to get wrapped up in myself and all the things I need to do that I simply do not give thanks to God. How sad is that? My very next moment could be my very last! Every day, every hour, every minute, even every second is a precious gift. Time is not wasted when it is spent giving praise to God. Oh Lord, teach us to count the days! Teach us to make the days count. Lead us in better ways, for some how these souls have forgotten that life means so much.

Let us take some time today and every day to give God the praise He is due! Take some time out of your busy schedule to watch the video below and mediate on the words. Let us make the most of the time every minute we are living.

~~~Life means so much~~~
By Chris Rice

   

The Lord is the stronghold of my life

Fear. Being afraid. Sometimes I am afraid. Afraid that I won't get everything done that needs to be done. Afraid of letting someone down. Afraid of not having the right words to say. Afraid of the words I do say coming out wrong. Afraid of the future. Afraid of how things might turn out. Afraid of what might be and what might not be. Sometimes I am afraid.

Fear. Being afraid. It's overwhelming. Everything seems to be coming at me all at once. It's like an army putting a castle under siege. The enemy surrounds the castle, starving its inhabitants. Those within the castle begin to fear. They begin to fear, and the fear turns to dread. The dread turns into despair, and the despair, hopelessness. It's like a ship being tossed about in the waves during a fearsome tempest. The rain pores down; cold wind saps the crew's strength. It's like falling down a never ending pit within nothing to stop the fall. Tumbling, falling. Down. Down. Down...

Fear. Being afraid. But what is there to fear? Of what is there to be afraid of? A voice calls out amidst the darkness. Amidst the sound of the approaching army. Amidst the sound of the crashing waves: "Be not afraid, for I am with you," Says the Lord. "Nothing shale snatch you from my hand." The inhabitants of the castle look up, and see a legion of flaming chariots surrounding them, driving away the enemy. The storm breaks and the waves calm; sunlight breaks through the night. A hand reaches out and catches the one falling.

Fear. I shale not be afraid. For the Lord is my light and my salvation. The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Though I am besieged by an army, and my enemies surround me, my heart shale not fear. My heart shale not fear, and I stand in confidence. I stand in confidence on the Rock. The Rock, my stronghold, my deliverance.

Fear. I shale not be afraid. For my Lord is with me. Never will He leave me, nor will He forsake me. He is always near.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation—
   whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
   of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me
   to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
   they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
   my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
   even then will I be confident."

Psalms 27:1-3

People pleasing

Ever feel like the decisions you make are a lose-lose situation? That if you spend time doing something, then you are passing up the opportunity to be doing something better? For example, if you are doing your homework, then you are passing up the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with your friends. But if you are hanging out with your friends, then you are passing up the opportunity to get caught up on homework to maintain that 4.0 GPA. But if you do ether of those things, then you are passing up the opportunity to clean your room to make it spic-and-span for your parents. Or you are passing up the opportunity to read that really exciting book. Or you are passing up the opportunity to exercise and keep a healthy figure. Or, or, or... the list could go on and on and on. To cap it all off, all those things seem like they are taking away your opportunity to build a closer relationship with God. All these things pulling and tugging on you for your attention. Meanwhile you are struggling to try and figure out if you are making the right choices. Ever feel that way? Well, that's how I'm feeling right now. All these things I could be doing. Makes me almost feel guilty no matter what I do because I will always be letting someone down. If I'm doing homework to get a good grade and please my professor and classmates, then I'm not doing my bible study lessons to please my youth pastor. And if I am blogging (like I am doing right now), then I am not doing ether of things and am letting both my pastor and my teacher and my classmates down. With all these thoughts bouncing around in my head, I am left feeling like a failure. A failure who isn't doing anything right.

But what is wrong with this picture? Is this the way it should be? No! Then what is wrong? The problem is just that, I'm trying to please people rather than pleasing God. Let me repeat that. I'm trying to please people, rather than pleasing God. Now that's messed up. The truth is, no matter how hard I may try, I will never please everyone. It's impossible. For if I am pleasing one person, then I loose the opportunity to please someone else. Again, because I am blogging, I'm not spending time with friends; I'm not spending time doing homework; and I am not spending time doing my bible study lesson. So by blogging, I have lost the opportunity to please several people. You see, in order to please people, we have to be doing something. People pleasing requires action. But what about God? What does it take to please God? Do I have to do something to please God? Can I only please God by doing religious things like reading my bible, praying, and going to Church? What does the bible say?

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6.

So in order to please God we must have faith. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 answers that question for us:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

So even though we cannot see God, we must believe (hold a statement as true) that God exists. So is that it? If we just believe that God exists we have pleased Him? Not quite. James 2:19 states this:

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."


Even demons believe in God. But do they please Him? No. So what pleases God? James 2:14-18 has this to say:

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.'

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."

So real faith will produce action. So what is it God wants us to do? Jesus gives us the answer in Matthew 22:37-40:

"Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'” 


So we are called to love God above all else, then love our neighbor as ourselves. This love for God will compel us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus says this in John 14:15:


"If you love me, you will obey what I command."

What is Jesus' command? John 15:12:

"My Command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."


So if we love God, we will obey his command. Notice Jesus does not say, "If you obey my command, then you will love me". But rather, "If you love me, [then] you will obey my command". Meaning, we can be doing the right things, but that doesn't mean we love God. For example, lets say a teen's parent asked them to clean their room. If the teen cleans their room, does that mean that they love their parents? Could there not be alternative motives for the teen cleaning their room? It could be out of fear of punishment, hope for a reward, or simply because they do what they are told. But if the teen loved their parents, would they not clean their room willingly and joyfully, and strive to clean well? Would they not, perhaps, even need to be told to clean their room? The same goes with God. If we love Him, truly love Him, then we will obey His commands. If you truly loved God, would you want to slander His name? Would you want to worship another god? Would you want to steel from another person? Would you want to look upon another with lust in your heart? Surely not! If you truly loved the Lord, you would not want to do anything that would jeopardize your relationship with Him. But rather, you would want to draw near to Him. You would want to love Him more. You would want to give your life in service to Him. You would want to do all things for His glory and not your own. You would want to please God before all others. The truth is, when you love the Lord, you will do those things. You will bring glory and honor to Him in all things. When you love the Lord, you will honor Him when doing your homework. When you love the Lord, you will honor Him when spending time in fellowship with your friends. When you love the Lord, you will honor Him when blogging. When you love the Lord, you will honor Him while at work. You will honor Him while exercising. You will honor Him will reading that good book. You will honor Him in all of your activities. You see, when you love the Lord, obeying His commands is not restricting, but freeing! No longer are you bound to the lose-lose situation of people pleasing. But rather in all things you do, you will honor God when you love Him. So it's not all about trying to make all the right choices. But rather, simply seeking to love God more and more and watching as He transforms you into His likeness, becoming more and more like Christ. 

This goes for everyone, including me. I know it won't be easy, but in the end, it will all be worth it. Just remember that when Christ comes back, and we are judged according to what we have done, it will not be our instructor on the throne criticizing us for not doing well enough in school. It will not be our friends criticizing us for not spending enough time with them. It won't even be our pastor criticizing us for not spending enough time doing our bible study. But Jesus will be on the throne asking us how we lived our lives here on earth, and who we lived those days for. No more people pleasing. Instead, I want to live my life loving and pleasing my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  


"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  
I Corinthians 10:31

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Colossians  3:23-24

Behind the scenes

Behind the scenes. Behind every musical. Behind every motion picture. Behind every novel. Behind every audio clip. Behind every enterprise. Behind every university. Behind every government. Behind every mission field. Behind every Church. Behind every item stocked at the local super market. Behind every garbage free park. Behind every crime scene investigation. Behind the scenes. There are people. People working. We may never meet them. We may never see them. But they are there. They are working. Behind the scenes.

The wind. We cannot see it. We cannot grasp it. But we feel it. We experience its effects. We know not from where it comes or where it goes. But it is there.

Sound. We cannot see it. We cannot touch it. But we hear it. We experience its effects. The vibrations in the wind.

God. We cannot see him. We cannot touch him. At least not in this life time. But he is there. He is always there. And he is working. Always working. We experience his work every day. Often without knowing. He is behind every blessing. He is behind every breath. He is behind every dollar earned. He is behind every gentile breeze. He is behind every violent storm. He is behind every sun rise. He is behind every sun set. He is behind every constellation in the starry sky. He is behind every smile given. He is behind every tear cried.  He is behind every miracle unexplainable to man. He is behind every change of heart. He is behind every inch of creation. He is always there. Always working. Working all things to the good. To the good of those who love him. To the good of those called according to his purpose. To his will. To his way. He is working. He is reigning. We may not see him. We may not touch him. But we experience him. We experience his work. For he is there. Always there. Always working. Behind the scenes.

A pattern to the chaos

Chaotic. Random. Sporadic. Constantly shifting and changing. That's how the events of life seem. Random. Without reason. It all seems like a jumbled mess. Like a pile of puzzle pieces yet to be put in place. Like random lines drawn on a canvas. None of it makes any sense. What's the purpose and point to it all? Where is the rhyme and reason to it? Is there a method to the madness? Or is it just madness and chaos?

That's kind of how I feel about life right now. All these seemingly random events occurring, and nothing really lining up. It's a jumbled mess. I see all the puzzle pieces and I know they fit together some how. Some are already in place. But what about the rest of the pieces? Where do they fit?

I wonder if this is how Ester felt. She, who was just a lowly Jewish orphan, through a seemingly random set of events, somehow finds herself the queen of the entire Persian empire. An empire that extended from India all the way to Egypt. How could this be? What purpose did this serve? What was God hoping to accomplish in all of this?

As the story unfolds, Mordecai, Ester's cousin who had adopted her after her parents had died, uncovers and foils a plot to assassinate the king of Persia. He, however, receives no recognition for his actions, though this event is recorded in the king's chronicles. Another seemingly random event. How does this tie into the story?

Then, things take a turn for the worse. Haman, an arrogant, high ranking noble official, hashes a plot to exterminate all the Jews after Mordecai refuses to pay him honor. Not satisfied with simply killing Mordecai, Haman spins a lie to king regarding the Jews in an effort to pass a decree that would effectively wipe the Jews from the face of the earth. The decree is made, and sent out to all the provinces, causing great distress amongst the Jews. Mordecai urges queen Ester to beg and plead with the king for mercy. This is no easy task, for if anyone was to approach the king without being summoned was to be put to death, unless the king should extend his gold scepter, sparing the person's life. But at the end of verse 14 in chapter four Mordecai says this to Ester, "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Ah, so now we begin to see some purpose to these events. Now the puzzle pieces seem to fall into place. God, in His sovereignty, foreknew of Haman's evil plan and orchestrated events so that a Jew could be in a position of power for such a time as that. After three days of fasting and praying, Ester disobeys the law and approaches the king who, by the grace of God, extends his golden scepter, sparing her life. When the king asks her what she wants, she requests that the king and Haman attend a banquet she prepared. She then invites the king and Haman to come back again the next day for another banquet where she would give the king a straight answer as to her request and petition, for the king had asked her once again what she wanted. Afterwords, as Haman is on his way home, he becomes enraged when he passes by Mordecai, who still refuses to pay him honor. After consulting with his wife and friends, he has a 75 foot gallows built upon which he plans to hang Mordecai the next morning. That same night, the king could not sleep. So he has the chronicles regarding his reign read to him, and low and behold the record of Mordecai's actions regarding the attempted assassination of the king is read. When the king learns that nothing had been done to honor Mordecai because of this, he asks who is present in the court. Uncoincidentally, Haman had just arrived on the scene on his mission to dispose of Mordecai. Haman is called into see the king where he is asked by the king, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?"

In his arrogance, Haman gives an elaborate response of how he would wish to be honored, thinking that the king is referring to him. But to Haman's great astonishment, the king orders him to do the very things he wants to have done to himself, to Mordecai instead. What an amazing turn of events! Haman, who was once greatly honored, is now greatly humbled by exalting Mordecai, a man of humility. To make matters worse, at home, Haman's wife and friends give him an ominous warning that he was soon to come to ruin. No sooner had these words begun to sink in when Haman is taken away to the banquet that Ester had prepared. At the banquet the king asks Ester for a third time what she wants. She replies by asking for her life and the lives of her people to be spared from the genocide that was to take place. When the king asks who would dare do such a thing, she points a finger of accusation at Haman, the other guest at the banquet. Enraged, the king storms out of the room and goes to the palace gardens. Haman, who is utterly terrified, stays behind to beg for his life; a foolish mistake as only the king could be left alone with a woman of royalty. As he falls upon the couch were Ester is laying, the king returns. Haman's face is immediately covered, and at the kings command, Haman is sent to be hanged on the very gallows that were erected for Mordecai's execution. The king then decrees a new edict on behalf of the Jews, allowing them vengeance upon those who wished to harm them on the predetermined date Haman had set for their extermination, and raises Mordecai to second in command over all his kingdom. And there was much rejoicing.

Now I'm sure you are wondering how the story of Ester relates to our crazy, random, chaotic, ever changing lives. Simply put, the randomness of our lives may not be as random as we think. Given enough time, the puzzle pieces start to come together to form a beautiful picture. Given enough time, the random lines on the canvas become a wonderful masterpiece. Given enough time, the seemingly disjointed events in our lives start to make sense and are given meaning and purpose. There is a rhyme and reason to it all. A pattern to the chaos. For it is God who is at work behind the scenes in our lives, directing and orchestrating events according to his perfect will and plan. A wonderful plan to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). To those who love Him and are called according to His purposes, all things are worked for the good (Romans 8:28). Good not as we see it, but as God sees it. In this, I take comfort. In this, I find hope. I may not know where God is leading me, or what my future holds. I may not know why events happen as they do, or if I will ever discover their true purpose. But I know that God is in control. That He is at work behind it all. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I Know Who Holds Tomorrow ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Ira Stanphill

I don't know about tomorrow;

I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from its sunshine

For its skies may turn to grey.

I don't worry o'er the future,

For I know what Jesus said.

And today I'll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter

As the golden stairs I climb;

Every burden's getting lighter,

Every cloud is silver-lined.

There the sun is always shining,

There no tear will dim the eye;

At the ending of the rainbow

Where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow;

It may bring me poverty.

But the one who feeds the sparrow,

Is the one who stands by me.

And the path that is my portion

May be through the flame or flood;

But His presence goes before me

And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

Another year gone...

And a new one to come! This year has gone by incredibly fast, filled with its ups and downs. I've laughed harder and cried more this year than years prior. I've experienced much growth in my walk with Christ. Growth through times filled with blessings and joy, and though times of pain and hardships. I've made new friends and re-connected with old ones. I've seen what real love looks like, and how beautifully a love story can be shaped when left in the more-than-capable hands of God. I've learned the importance of having a thankful heart, mind, and attitude. I've come to see what it means to be accepting, and to remain committed even when the easiest option was to just give up.

As this year comes to a close and a new one opens up, I look forward to what is to come. To what 2012 has to bring. There will be good times and there will be bad times. There will be laughter and there will be tears. There will be joys and gladness, and there will be pain and sorrow. Events that seemed random in the past will be given new meaning, and new, puzzling events will unfold. Blessings will come, and so will challenges. But despite this ever shifting and changing walk of life, I can stand firm knowing one thing will remain: God. Jesus Christ. My personal savior and lord. Who He was is who He is; and who He is He always will be. He will always remain the same. His love will never change. His great love will always remain great. His infinite mercy will always remain infinite. His unfathomable grace will always remain unfathomable.

Thank you Lord for this past year. Thank you for how you have richly blessed me. Thank you for how you have molded me and shaped me. Molding me and shaping me into what you want me to be. Removing the dross, so that I may reflect you like pure silver reflects the image of the silver smith. Thank you for the challenges. Thank you for how you have stretched me. Thank you for the pain and the hardships. The pain and hardships have shown me just how much I need you and cannot live life without you. That the things and passions of this world cannot sustain me or fill me. Only you can fill that empty void inside of me. Lord, I thank you for the challenges and blessings that are to come. For the growth of old, and the birth of new relationships. For new opportunities to reach the lost. For events to unfold according to your good and perfect will. Lord, I thank you for your love. For your great, infinite, unfathomable love. For how you love me despite all the wrong that I do. For how you draw near to me, even when I push you away. For how you lift me up when I fall down. For how you have rescued this life from the pit. For dieing for me on that cruel, lonely, burdensome cross, even while I was still a sinner. For how I have been redeemed and purchased by the blood of your son. For how I can enter your glorious presence, white as snow, for you see Christ and not my sin. Lord, I am thankful that though this life is fleeting, though this life quickly fades, that there is more to life than this. That death is not the end of the adventure, but the beginning of a newer and greater one. A new life, in a new heaven, and a new earth, forever. Lord, I cannot possibly fathom what that day will look like, but I am confident that day will come. And I am confident that when I am finally in your arms, I will look up and see, that love has a face. Thank you Lord. Thank you. 

A tail of two banquet halls

Packed to the brim, the banquet hall was filled with guests chattering boisterously over plates filled with sumptuous food. I sat amongst the guests, digging into my own plate. The savory food and smooth drink livened the taste buds, an excellent meal. The flavor exploded onto the tongue, and a warm, euphoric feeling washed over me. 

Our hosted entered the scene. Tall and proud, adorned with splendor and dressed like a king, he sauntered about the room watching the guests, a smirk upon his regal face. He carried himself with authority, though with a very arrogant air about him. A few acknowledged his presence, most continued to eat.

The atmosphere was energetic and hectic. The guests ate in haste as though time was short, as though this was their last meal. Hidden beneath all the energy and the noise was a sense of fear, though few seemed aware. The energetic, boisterous atmosphere was artificial, fake. At first I was not aware, for this sense was clouded by a false sense of liveliness and vitality. But as time wore in, I was slowly roused to my situation.

It started with a noise. A faint noise at that, but a noise none the less. It was a rumbling. A low rumbling. At first I couldn't place it, but the horrible truth soon became evident. It came from me. This food, though savory, and this drink, though smooth did not fill. I took another bite. I felt the lump go down my throat. It went down, down, down... then... nothing. More rumbling, this time louder. I took some of the drink. It too did not satisfy; the liquid simply evaporating before bringing any real nourishment. The rumbling was becoming audible. As this revelation dawned on me, I became aware of a new sound. The same rumbling, though it did not come from me, but from the guest sitting next to me. This guest, however, was not aware of his present state. More rumbling, this time from the guest on my other side. Another horrible truth began to dawn on me. The noise within this banquet all was not talking at all, but a rumbling, growling sound coming from the empty stomachs of all the guests. This noise, overwhelming and overpowering, filled me with dread and despair. Who could save me from this banquet hall of death!

When all seemed hopeless, and fear threaten to overcome me, I began to feel a new presence. This presence, contrary to the atmosphere of the hall, was filled with life. This presence brought hope amidst the despair. This presence, even just being present, began to fill me like none of the food I had been eating could. The presence whispered my name. It called out to me. The voice was tender and kind. It was as gentile as a cool breeze on a warm summers day, as freshly washed linens. Somewhere, deep in my heart, I had known all along that this presence was there, calling out to me. I had been simply ignoring it all along. As I was about to get up, I hesitated. Staring directly at me was my host. Gone was his smile. In its place was a slight frown, a quizzical expression. I felt a touch of doubt. How could I leave behind what I have always known? I sat down, defeated. I cried and wept. The presence called out again. I tried to ignore it, but it was persistent. I knew it could offer so much more, something much better than what I had. But I was afraid.

A hand touched my shoulder. "Come", the presence said. It took me by the hand and I got to my feet. It lead me away from the hall toward an unseen door. The host of the hall glared furiously, but was powerless to act. The presence lead me through the door to another hall. A different banquet hall. This hall too was filled with guests. But unlike the guests at the other hall, these guests were not controlled by fear. These guests were filled with joy and life.The guests welcomed me gladly and offered me a seat at the table.

I sat down and took the food and drink that had been prepared for me. This food and drink, like the other banquet hall, was also savory and smooth. But unlike the other hall, this food truly satisfies, and the drink truly nourishes. As I ate, I was filled. Filled with new life and energy. Here, I was truly satisfied.

The host for this hall entered the room. Unlike the host from the other hall, this man was dressed in a simple bright white robe, but had the unmistakable air of a true, noble king. A warm, inviting smile adorned this host's face. He looked upon his guests with love in his eyes and served them whenever there was need. He would talk with the guests, and knew each by name.

The atmosphere here was warm and inviting. The guests here were relaxed and calm. Not a trace of fear could be found. Their eyes held their host in reverent awe.

It was then that I heard another voice. It called out to me. It flowed like velvet, and was sly and cunning. It reminded me of what I had, what I was missing. It called me, invited me back. I turned and looked toward the source. It was the host from the other banquet hall. He stood at the door, though he could not enter the hall. He accused the guests, calling them fakes and hypocrites. He denounced the food, calling it tasteless and unsatisfying. Though his arms were open wide and inviting, and though his words smooth and convincing, his eyes held nothing but hatred and deceit.

Confusion, doubt, and fear swept over me like a dark cloud blocks out the sun. As tears filled my eyes, I felt the hand of the presence from before on my shoulders. I looked up and saw this presence had a face, the host of the banquet hall. He showed me his pierced hands. He showed me his pierced side. He told me he had redeemed me. He told me that he had bought me. He told me that I had been adopted into his family, that I was his son. That I no longer needed to live in fear.

I was faced with a choice. To return to what I had always known. To return to the former way of life. To return to food that could not fill, and to drink that could not satisfy. To return to that banquet hall filled with death and decay. Or to remain where I belonged. To remain in this newness of life. To remain where the food truly fills, and where the drink truly satisfies. To remain in the banquet hall of life, where I was the son of the host.




The first banquet hall represents the world, and its host is Satan. The father of lies. The accuser. The roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The thief who comes to steal, to kill, to destroy. The food and drink represents all the things the world has to offer: money, wealth, fame, power, pleasure. Things that satisfy for a moment, but never truly fill. The guests here are those who inwardly fear the coming wrath of the day of judgment but are oblivious to the fate that awaits them and have buried the truth under a mountain of lies.

The second banquet hall represents the kingdom of God, and its host is Jesus Christ. The way, the truth, and the life. The good Shepard. The one who has come to give us life that we may live it to the full. The one who has purchased us with his blood that we may be sons and daughters of God. The food and drink here represents the body and blood of Christ. The body broken for us on the cross, dieing in our place. The blood shed for us for the complete forgiveness of all our sins. The guests here are the sons and daughters of God. Those who do not fear death, for they know they have an eternal home in heaven.

We are all eating at one banquet hall or the other. We are all guests of ether the hall of sin and death, or the hall of truth and life. Now ask yourself this question: where am I? Think about it.