“Go into the Highways and Hedges”
139
The lesson is for all time. We are to follow the Lamb of God whith-
ersoever He goeth. His guidance is to be chosen, His companionship
valued above the companionship of earthly friends. Christ says, “He
that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and
he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
Matthew 10:37
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Around the family board, when breaking their daily bread, many
in Christ’s day repeated the words, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread
in the kingdom of God.” But Christ showed how difficult it was to find
guests for the table provided at infinite cost. Those who listened to His
words knew that they had slighted the invitation of mercy. To them
worldly possessions, riches, and pleasures were
“I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna
in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which
cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof,
and not die. I am the living bread which came down from
heaven.”
John 6:48-51
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all-absorbing. With one consent they had made excuse.
So it is now. The excuses urged for refusing the invitation to the
feast cover the whole ground of excuses for refusing the gospel invita-
tion. Men declare that they cannot imperil their worldly prospects by
giving attention to the claims of the gospel. They count their temporal
interests as of more value than the things of eternity. The very bless-
ings they have received from God become a barrier to separate their
souls from their Creator and Redeemer. They will not be interrupted in
their worldly pursuits, and they say to the messenger of mercy, “Go thy
way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”
Acts 24:25
. Others urge the difficulties that would arise in their social
relations should they obey the call of God. They say they cannot afford
to be out of harmony with their relatives and acquaintances. Thus they
prove themselves to be the very actors described in the parable. The
Master of the feast regards their flimsy excuses as showing contempt
for His invitation.
The man who said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot
come,” represents a large class. Many there are who allow their wives
or their husbands to prevent them from heeding the call of God. The