“Come on down!” It’s a familiar saying to many. The game show “The Price Is Right” made it famous. Contestants gather in the studio audience with the hope that they will be called to take part in the game and win prizes. When their name is called, accompanied by the phrase “come on down!”, they jump up and run wildly to the stage.
Their excitement is obvious. Their patience has paid off and now they have a chance to get something good.
The Book of 2 Chronicles is a conclusion of sorts. The history of the Israelites and all of their turmoil, their capture and bondage, their forced exile, has been chronicled and now has ended. What does King Cyrus declare?
This is the happy ending for the Israelites. They have been exiled to a foreign land and have hoped and longed for a chance to return to their land in Israel. Now, Cyrus has followed the command of God and plans to build a temple in Jerusalem. Things have turned around. Things are looking better.
Cyrus makes a declaration of his intent and he ends with an invitation. Anyone wishing to return to the land of Judah is invited to do so. May God be with them. May they be blessed and happy. Let them go up.
I imagine that at the word of this decree there were many who waved their hands and ran much like the contestants on the game show. They were ecstatic. Their patience had paid off. Something good was waiting for them.
Are we any different? We may plod along in life trying to do the best that we can. We may go from day to day hoping for the best, longing for something better, wondering if good will come.
Then God gives an invitation. We are invited to come and be in communion with our Lord. We are invited to have our souls meet with the Holy Spirit to be refreshed and renewed. We are invited to receive incredible goodness from God.
So to any of you who hope for salvation, who hope for goodness, who hope for peace and love – may God be with you, and may you go up to the table of God.
DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you respond to God’s invitation?
No comments:
Post a Comment