Grace Party: Escape to Reality Greatest Hits, Volume 3 by Paul Ellis Page B

were
supposed to celebrate the harvest by spending their tithes on “whatever your
heart desires” and throwing a party that included the poor widow and orphan.
They sound like awesome parties, but by the time Jesus showed up they had come
to an end. Instead of throwing parties for poor people, the law teachers were stealing
widows’ homes (Luke 20:47).
    To be
fair, the Jews were in no mood for celebrating, not with the heavy Roman yoke
upon their necks. Burdensome taxes and cruel oppression don’t make for a party
vibe. But they do make Jesus’ preoccupation with joyful celebration all the
more compelling, indeed, prophetic.
    “The
kingdom of heaven is not like this,” said Jesus pointing to the oppressive
world in which they lived. “It’s like a wedding feast. It’s like a great
banquet. And you guys are going to be surprised because many will come from the
east and the west and take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob.”
    In other
words, there will be Germans there.
    Jesus
spoke of parties because he was heaven-minded. There’s no oppression in heaven,
no leprosy, no poverty. Knowing that God’s will for there is his will for here,
Jesus shone in a dark world. He rebuked storms, drove out demons, and loved the
loveless. He was good news on a bad news day. He was fun in an unfun world.
    On that humid
Friday night, I went to church expecting one thing and discovered another. It’s
like that with Jesus. People come to him on account of some need and find
themselves caught up in the joy of heaven.
    Who knew
that following Christ could be such fun? Certainly this is not the picture we
get from boring religion, but it is the blessed reality of grace.
    It is my
conviction that followers of Christ ought to be celebrating constantly. We
ought to be a happy people because we serve a happy God who has entrusted us
with a happy gospel.
    When we
enjoy the Lord and his many good gifts, we are painting a prophetic picture of the
kingdom come. We are saying, “Life is more than tears.” We are agreeing with
Jesus who said, “Blessed are those who mourn for comfort is at hand.” Indeed,
in his presence there is fullness of joy and pleasures forever more (Psalm
16:11).
    At a
party everyone has a role. One kills the fatted calf and another cooks it.
    Me? I
want to be the guy who hands out the invitations and says, “You are invited to
the greatest party of all. Indeed, you are blessed because the King of kings
has asked for you by name.”
    I guess
that’s why I write, so people will know that they are welcome at the House of
Grace where a great banquet is in progress and where Jesus is the life of the
party!
    For the past
five years or so I have been inviting people to Jesus’ party through my
website, Escape to Reality. E2R is devoted to proclaiming the good news of
God’s unconditional love and grace, and its message has reached virtually every
country on earth. My hope is that all who hear the message will respond like
those Germans who left what they were doing to come and join the party.
    A few
months ago I released Volumes 1 and 2 of E2R’s Greatest Hits, called Grace
Disco and Grace Classics respectively. I knew before I began this
series that I would have a volume entitled Grace Party because how could
I not? As Jesus explained in the parable of the prodigal son, where there’s
grace there is celebration. When a sinner repents, there is joy.
    Christians
ought to be the most joyful people, yet many are not because they have been
sold a joyless gospel. They’ve been told they have to maintain their salvation
or make themselves holy, and since these are impossible tasks they are as
miserable as Pharisees. Sure, there is joy for the repentant sinner, but there
is no joy for them .
    “How can
I rejoice when there’s work to be done? How can I celebrate when the world’s
going to hell in a handbasket?”
    If this
describes you, please don’t throw this book away. Keep reading! You need