The Main Thing Series

Several years ago, the London Transit Authority had a problem. Buses were going right past passengers who were waiting at designated places to be picked up. They were at the bus stops, and the buses were sailing right past them. The London Transit Authority released a statement to explain their actions. The statement said it was impossible for them to maintain schedules if they always had to stop and pick up passengers (Dave Stone, "Keep the Dust Off the Highchair," Preaching Today, Tape No. 143; www.PreachingToday.com).

They substituted a good thing—being on time—for the main thing—picking up passengers. And if you’re not careful, you can do that too! You can substitute good things for the main thing.

So that raises a couple of very good questions: 1st, what is the main thing in life, and 2nd, how can I keep the main thing the main thing. Well, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Luke 14, Luke 14, where Jesus tells a story about some people who prioritized good things over the main thing.

Luke 14:15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (ESV)

Jesus is at a dinner party hosted by a “ruler of the Pharisees” (Luke 14:1). Now, the Pharisee and his buddies tried to humiliate Jesus, but Jesus humbles them. Then He urges them to take the lowest seats at the table and suggests that the host invite the poor and the disabled to his party, people who cannot repay him. The conversation has gotten uncomfortable, so one of the Pharisees tries to change the subject.

Instead of talking about the banalities of this life, he wants to talk about the blessings of the next life. Now, no doubt, this Pharisee expects to be at God’s feast in the coming Kingdom, but Jesus tells him, “Don’t be too sure. God invites many to His feast, but only the humble choose to go.”

Luke 14:16-17 Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready’” (ESV).

Now, in Jesus’ day, it took a long time to prepare a banquet, and people had no watches. So the host would send out two invitations—1st, to get an idea of how many were coming, and 2nd, to let those who had accepted the first invitation that the banquet was ready.

The host in this story is God, who invites you and many others to His banquet. That is, God invites you to eat with Him and to enjoy His company forever. This is more than just an invitation to God’s house. It’s an invitation to an intimate, personal relationship with the Living God of the Universe!

It’s the main thing in life. Nothing else is more important than knowing God personally. Now, if that’s what you want, then…

HEAR HIS CALL TO YOU.

Listen to His invitation to fellowship with Him. Understand that God wants a relationship with you forever!

Bonnie Crawford was in danger of missing a connecting flight for a board meeting last year (2024) when a United Airlines customer-service rep saved the day. She got rebooked on a pricey nonstop flight in business class. For free.

You’re probably thinking, “No airline ever does that for me.” Crawford isn’t just any frequent flier. She has United’s invitation-only Global Services status.

The Wall Street Journal says, “It’s a semi-secret, status-on-steroids level that big spenders strive for every year. American and Delta have souped-up statuses, too, but the airlines don’t like to talk about what it takes to snag an invite, how many people have such status, or even the perks.

“Get into these exclusive clubs and you get customer service on speed dial, flight rebooking before you even know there’s trouble, lounge access, and priority for upgrades.

“United invited Crawford to their Global Services in 2017 and she was hooked. ‘It was the first taste of this magic, elusive, absolutely incredible status,’ she says. United invited her again last year, but she fears not being invited again due to fewer costly international flights in her new job” (Dawn Gilbertson, “This Airline Status Is So Exclusive, Even Elite Fliers Aren’t Sure How They Got It,” The Wall Street Journal, 6-2-24; www.Preaching Today.com).

If you’re a frequent flyer, it’s wonderful for an airline to invite you to their super status. But even more wonderful is God inviting you to enjoy super status with Him. Please, hear his call to you!

John 1 says, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12).