Heaven is a Party that we have to RSVP to

Revelation 7:9-10
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

All of these people stand in Heaven, yelling to God, 'salvation belongs to God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'. (not yelling like yelling at Him, but like they are so excited to be there and to be saying this that they yell).

Who is the Lamb, and why does the Bible speak in riddles? The Lamb is Jesus Christ, and the Bible speaks in riddles to show us pieces of His character or, in this case, Jesus' character. He was the Lamb offered as a sacrifice on the cross for our sins. He offered Himself for the sacrifice. Before this, Jews had to offer lambs and cows and other animals to atone for their sins. But we have the Lamb, Jesus, who is perfect and pure (another requirement for Old Testament sacrifices.)

How do we get this Salvation that all of these people speak of? By this prayer:

"God, I know that I am a sinner, worthy of being cast forever from Your prescience. But I know that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die as a sacrifice for my sins. I ask in His name that You will forgive me for my sins and come into my life. Thank You, Lord, for this gift. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

If you just prayed that prayer, congratulations. You are now a child of God.

If you've never prayed that prayer, know this: God loves you dearly, more than we ever will know. God does not want you to go to Hell, He wants you to Heaven. You might be asking right now, 'Why would a loving God send His people to Hell?'. Here's your answer: He gave us an invitation to Heaven, we just have to choose to accept it or not.

Here's another analogy for you: Heaven is a party, and God sent you an invitation. You have a week to go until this party, and you have to RSVP. It's Monday, the party is on Saturday, so you plan to RSVP later, like Wednesday. But on Tuesday, a big storm comes, and you can't use your phone, or reach God to RSVP. Saturday comes, and you go to the party, but you didn't RSVP, so God hasn't prepared food for you, so you have to do something else.

In His Service,
Joyce