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Show God's Open House Lesson for November 20, 1949 IT IS A WARM chapter, this 55th of Isaiah. Some false ideas about God melt away fast when they are brought close to it. Let us take a look at some of these notions and see how thev wilt in the light of God's word. Sometimes these notions are held sincerely, sometimes they are mere excuses to keep from facing God. One of these mistaken notions is the idea that God has two lists one ... . , Dr. Foreman is a list of people on whom he intends in-tends to have mercy, and will save; the other list being a private one, of those on whom he intends to have no mercy and will not save. If your name is on the first list, fine; but if it is on the second list, you are in a hopeless fix; for if God is not going to help you, who can? This is a terribly wrong notion. no-tion. It confuses the true God with some sort of sultan in the sky who has a "social register" of persons he will admit to his palace. "Use this invitation as your card of admittance." No, it is not at all like that. If you really think that admission to heaven is by card only, then cut out Isaiah 55 and present it at the gate. Cut out any verse in the Bible that says "Whosoever," John 3:16 for example and present pre-sent that. God keeps open house, he does not employ butlers or strong-arm men to keep 'out the crowds, he wants all to come who will. Do you want God? Then come. Are you thirsty for the living water? Then drink. It is as simple as that. No Waiting THERE IS ANOTHER notion that keeps people away from God. It is a kind of shyness. It is the feeling feel-ing that maybe it isn't any use hunting for God. It is the feeling a boy has when he is lost in the woods and has about made up his mind that there is no use in walking any more, he will just sit down and wait till somebody finds him. It is the feeling that God may be sensitive and doesn't waat people coming bothering him. It is the notion that if God wants me, he will knock me down and drag me where he wants me to be. A man with a notion like that, of course, isn't likely to meet with God. He spends his life paying God no attention whatever, not even thinking think-ing about him, perhaps. He may even go as far as he can from the Father's house, believing that God's long arrri, like the long arm of the F.B.I, or the Mounties, will reach after him and get him in case God ever wants him. Now this is a ridiculous idea and a bad one too. Isaiah would not think it true for a minute. "Seek ye the Lord," he says. "Call on God . . . return to the Lord." "Incline your ear and come!" This means you if you will. But if you won't, God will not force you. He forces no man. He wants willing obedience, obed-ience, loving service, not slavery. God will have no chain on you but the chain of love. God keeps an open house, not a prison farm. No House Of Horrors ANOTHER WRONG NOTION, for which, alas, many a church member is partly responsible, is the notion that the nearer we get to God, the gloomier we shall be. All the talk about sacrifice and suffering for others, such as we were thinking of last week, all the emphasis in the church on the death of Christ, all the solemnity of most church services, make people think: "God may be all right for solemn people, but not for me; I like life with a smile." Now that is just another mistaken mis-taken notion. The very persons who know the deeper meanings of sacrifice are just the persons who don't like to use that word about themselves. In fact, it could be said that in general it is only Christians who have a right to be gay. Jesus himself, him-self, on the same night in which he was betrayed, spoke to his friends about sharing his joy to the full. Isaiah 55 is certainly no invitation to gloom. Joy, peace, the clapping of hands are there. But how do we know Isaiah was right? There is only one way, and that is not to sit arguing about it. You never know what a party is like by staying at home. Do you really want to find out A-hat goes on there? Don't be content con-tent to hear others say, "It's wonderful!" won-derful!" God's door stands open. 'Copyright by the International Council Coun-cil of Religious Education on behalf of 0 Protestant denominations. Released y WNU Features. |
