It's a pretty sad feeling when you prepare a big welcome and the one you did it for never comes. You've gone through so much to make it perfect just for them.
Jesus knows that feeling. He's prepared a welcome home, an expensive welcome, for some people who have never come.
The Word of God in Luke 19:41 says, "As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, 'If you had only known this day what would bring you peace, but now it is hidden from your eyes. You did not recognize the time of God's coming.'"
That feeling has been repeated many times since then, as someone Jesus was inviting to have a relationship with Him was too busy or too disinterested to respond. He actually weeps over those who do not respond to His love because of what He wanted to do for them. "If you had only known what would bring you peace." Maybe the peace that has eluded you for so long is peace that only God's Son can give you? Could it be there has never been peace because there's never been room for Jesus?
Imagine how Jesus feels when someone He died for doesn't come? The Bible clearly spells out the uncomfortable fact that we are all on death row spiritually. We have sinned against the God who made us and have insisted on living our way instead of His way. The Bible says, "The soul that sins will die" ( Ezekiel 18:4). It is a life forever without God and His love, with no pain relievers to cover the pain. We are saved by the loving intervention of God's Son Jesus. The Bible declares, "Christ died for our sins." We did the sinning, but Jesus did the dying.
Having purchased your rescue with His blood, He holds up a banner for you saying "Welcome home." He's been holding it for a long time, waiting for you to come to Him in faith, telling Him you are putting your total trust in Him for a relationship with God. It's time to come home. Someday you won't be able to as the banner will be gone and the open arms will be gone. Today, you can still come.
Too many times the banner's been up and Jesus was waiting, but you didn't come. Please come today and make this the day when you finally experience the wonderful love of the welcome home of Jesus Christ.