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"A certain man made a great supper, and bade many." [Luke 14:16]
I sat before a table in a room lit by the warm glow of a fire, surrounded by a happy throng of brethren; upon the table was laid a feast of magnificent bounty, the choicest stores brought us by the love of our Lord. Our hearts and voices were joined together in a song of praise to Him; one of the brethren stood to ask the blessing upon the wondrous feast, and though I remember his prayer only in part, this sentence is forever etched in my memory: “Pity the nations, oh our God, and constrain the Earth to come. We long to see Thy Churches full. Send Thy victorious Word abroad and bring the strangers home.”
As my brethren broke bread and began to eat and drink of this love-feast, a wave of emotions came crashing over me. Tears sprang to my eyes, and I slipped out of my chair, sobbing like a child that has lost his parent. “Why was I made to hear Thy voice,” I cried out, “and enter while there was yet room? Thousands have made a wretched choice and would rather starve than come!” Silence had fallen over the room, yet I took no notice and continued my wretched monologue. “It was the same love that spread this feast, and sweetly drew us in…else we would have still refused to taste and perished in our sin!” The tears of my weeping came freely, and I cried out in woe, “Lord, why was I a guest?”
I know not how long I lay there, weeping and sobbing, but suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I raised my tear-stained face to gaze into a countenance of such light and beauty that human words fail to describe it. A gentle smile was upon His face as He replied to my piteous inquiry: “While you were yet a sinner, I died for you; for I loved you before you loved Me.”
The Words were as a beautiful melody in my ears, giving me strength and joy. I took up the song with the Chosen as our Master took His place at the head of the table, and with one thankful heart and soul and voice, we sang His redeeming Grace!
[James Smith with help from Isaac Watts]
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