>COME AS YOU ARE. NO JACKET REQUIRED
>
>
>I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn't be the right place. 
>After all, I couldn't possibly be
>welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times,
>by several different people, and I had finally decided to see what 
>this place was all about. But,
>this just couldn't be the right place.
>
>Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation that I clutched in my 
>hand. I scanned past the words,
>"Come as you are. No jacket required" and found the location.
>Yes, I was at the right place. I peered through the window again and 
>saw a room of people whose
>faces seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed,
>adorned in fine garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined 
>at this exquisite restaurant.
>
>Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn clothing, covered 
>in stains. I was dirty, in
>fact, filthy. A foul smell seemed to consume me and I couldn't
>shake the grime that clung to my body. As I turned around to leave, 
>the words from the invitation
>seemed to leap out at me..."Come as you are. No jacket
>required."
>
>I decided to give it a shot. Mustering up every bit of courage I 
>could find, I opened the door to
>this restaurant and walked up to a man standing behind
>a podium. "Your name, sir?" he asked me with a smile.
>
>"Jimmy D. Brown," I mumbled without looking up. I thrust my hands 
>deep into my pockets, hoping to
>conceal their stains. He didn't seem to notice the filth
>that I was covered in and he continued, "Very good, sir. A table is 
>reserved in your name. Would you
>like to be seated?"
>
>I couldn't believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I 
>said, "Yes, of course!" He lead
>me to a table and, sure enough, there was a placard with
>my name written on it in a deep, dark red. As I browsed over a menu, 
>I saw many delightful items
>listed. There were things like, "peace," "joy," "blessings,"
>"confidence," "assurance," "hope," "love," "faith," and "mercy." I 
>realized that this was no
>ordinary restaurant! I flipped the menu back to the front
>in order to see where I was at... "God's Grace," was the name of this place.
>
>The man returned and said, "I recommend the 'Special of the Day'. 
>With it you are entitled to
>heaping portions of everything on this menu". You've got to
>be kidding! I thought to myself. You mean, I can have ALL of this! 
>"What is the 'Special of the
>Day'?" I asked with excitement ringing in my voice.
>
>"Salvation," was his reply. "I'll take it," I practically cried out. 
>Then, as quickly as I made that
>statement, the joy left my body. A sick painful ache
>jerked through my stomach and tears filled my eyes. Between my sobs 
>I said... "Mister, look at me.
>I'm dirty and nasty. I am unclean and unworthy of such
>things. I'd love to have all of this, but, but, I just can't afford it."
>
>Undaunted, the man smiled again. "Sir, your check has already been 
>taken care of by that Gentleman
>over there," he said as he pointed to the front of the
>room. "His name is Jesus."
>
>Turning, I saw a man whose very presence seemed to light the room. 
>He was almost too much to look
>at. I found myself walking towards Him and in a shaking
>voice I whispered, "Sir, I'll wash the dishes or sweep the floors or 
>take out the trash. I'll do
>anything I can do to repay You for all this."
>
>He opened His arms and said with a smile, "Son, all of this is yours 
>if you just come unto me. Ask
>me to clean you up and I will. Ask me to allow you to
>feast at my table and you will eat. Remember, the table is reserved 
>in your name. All you must do is
>accept this gift that I offer you."
>
>Astonished, I fell at his feet and said, "Please, Jesus. Please 
>clean up my life. Please change me
>and sit me at your table and give me this new life."
>
>Immediately, I heard the words, "It is finished." I looked down and 
>white robes adorned my squeaky
>clean body. Something strange and wonderful had happened.
>I felt new, like a weight had been lifted and I found myself seated 
>at His table
>
>"The 'Special of the Day' has been served," the Lord said to me. 
>"Salvation is yours." We sat and
>talked for a great while and I so enjoyed the time that
>I spent with Him. He told me, me of all people, that He would like 
>for me to come back as often as I
>liked for another helping from God's Grace. He made
>it clear that He wanted me to spend as much time with Him as possible.
>
>As it drew near time for me to go back outside into the "real 
>world," He whispered to me softly,
>"And Lo, I am with you always." And then, He said something
>to me that I will never forget. He said... "My child, do you see 
>these empty tables throughout this
>room?" "Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean?"
>I replied. "These are reserved tables...but the individuals whose 
>names are on each placard have not
>accepted their invitation to dine. Would you be so
>kind as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined 
>us as yet?" Jesus asked.
>
>"Of course," I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations. 
>"Go ye therefore into all
>nations," He said as I turned to leave I walked into God's
>Grace dirty and hungry. Stained in sin. My righteousness as filthy 
>rags. And Jesus cleaned me up. I
>walked out a brand new man...robed in white, His righteousness.
>And so, I'll keep my promise to my Lord. I'll go. I'll spread the 
>Word. I'll share the Gospel...
>I'll hand out the invitations.
>
>And I'll start with you.
>
>Have you been to God's Grace? There's a table reserved in your name, 
>and here's your invitation...
>"Come as you are. No jacket required."
>
>"For by grace are you saved through faith: and that not of 
>yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of
>works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2: 8,9