Have you ever found yourself the uninvited "plus one" to a party of a friend's friends? Where you know no one and everyone wonders why you're there. Conversations center any connection you have between a mutual friend or hobby and if that fails you resort to ole reliable: the weather. It's uncomfortable, it's awkward, it's frustrating and you keep shooting hatred looks over to your friend who dragged you here uninvited.
As I begin life in my twenties, I feel I have become more often than not the uninvited friend. Not literally of course, but culturally and generationally, I feel like I was left out on some universal invite.
To: Everyone Except Callie
Welcome to your twenties! Have fun, go party, drink it up, do what makes you happy, the world is your oyster!
From: The World
I've seen the whole party scene, I know what it looks like and every time I have found myself surrounded by it I feel so separated. I can't get myself to enjoy it like everyone else seems to. This feeling tends to make me feel isolated, alone, and very very uninvited. Honestly, sometimes I think about what it would be like to fit in, to walk in somewhere and know I'm invited, that I belong there just like everyone else. Then, some very truth filled words spoken to me a few years ago ring in my ears,
"Many have chosen Heaven over Hell. But fewer have chosen Heaven over Earth."
How true and how secure these words call me back. I've been baptized, I've said and done all the right things to claim Christianity. I'm saved, I've chosen eternity in Heaven rather than Hell... but sometimes I don't think I have chosen Heaven over Earth. Because I catch myself still longing to fit in, be approved, have people confirm my worth, root my identity in something not Someone. I still long to be invited. The thing is, I am far from being invited. Just the opposite actually, Christ has specifically told his followers they are uninvited from this world.
"But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform out lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Philippians 3:20-21
My dear friends, we are called to live as the uninvited plus one to this world. We are not meant to fit in, we won't be satisfied here, there is nothing to complete us, no perfect person. Be the uninvited one who stands out. Yes, it will be uncomfortable, awkward, and frustrating sometimes. You'll look to God in anger and wonder why am I here? This is when you'll want to walk away and just give in to the world's invite and all it claims to offer. But He will remind you that you are there to engage, to show love, compassion, grace, mercy, hope, and to in turn invite all to The Kingdom. Many of us have chosen and have accepted the promise of Heaven rather than eternity in Hell. That's the easy part...but have you been choosing the temporary invitation to Earth over your name written eternally in the book of life at the gates of Heaven?
