Recently, I watched a cooking competition like I had not seen before.  Unlike other competitions where the competitors were working to earn prize money or some other material award.  This competition was for one thing.  A seat at the table with the masters.  With those masters that had judged them at one time or another in the competition, who were considered the best or master in their own country.  The competitors received nothing for their time, other than a chance to win the coveted seat.  Watching this, the Holy Spirit started speaking to me.  

You see, we are very much like those competitors, all vying for a seat at the table.  Just to be with the Master, to commune with God.  That is the deepest desire of our hearts, to know and be known by The Master.  To commune with him, not just from some distant place but instead in a personal, intimate way.  

There are a few differences between us and the competitors in “The Final Table.”  The competitors were not simple home cooks.  No, they were in some way considered masters themselves already.  They owned restaurants, had won other prestigious food awards, but still they wanted to be the final chef who got to sit at the table with the masters.  So they left their prestige to seek something even greater. Unlike those competitors, I would not consider myself any kind of a master or great person.  I’m just a regular person, not a saint.  I am one who fails regularly and struggles on my journey, working out my salvation daily, both with success and without.  Quitting is not an option but not every battle is a win.  

There are those who others call saints, or masters in their own right.  We read some of their stories in the bible and in history books. However, whether you are like me or like them, we all are vying for a seat at the table.  No one has any advantage.  Maybe the saints are more like you than you can even imagine.  You see all humanity is on equal ground.  None of us are really worthy or good enough to ever sit at his table, saint or not.  So here we all are wanting so desperately to have that spot.  Often times we are working to earn a spot at the table.  Or should we be working for it?  Could we ever earn it?  

This is one of the most common mistakes in the Christian life.  We start in faith and then return to works.  Here is what I mean.  We believe by faith we are saved, yet after we are saved we keep working to earn his love, to earn his recognition, or to earn a place.  We covet that place.  As if it is not already ours.  It is easy to see, at least in our mind why others deserve that spot, because we cannot see the inside of them.  I guarantee you they feel the same and if they don’t, that is another sin, pride, or perhaps they have figured out that it was already won for them and are walking in freedom already.

The truth is not a single one of us would ever be worthy to sit at the table with the Master.  We are not and can never on our own or through our efforts, be good enough or have something worth bringing that will earn a spot with him.  That was why Christ had to lay down his life.  If we can just get a hold of this revelation it would bring such freedom.  We are not working to save ourselves, we have already been saved.  We are simply living our love and thankfulness out loud so that others can see how awed we are by God’s grace and acceptance of a people such as we are.  

I watched the competitors bring up these beautiful dishes, these edible works of art.   Amazed, at the beauty they offered to earn their spot.  It struck me that unlike them, what I have to bring the Lord is garbage.  The bible declares that our righteousness is like filthy rags.  Even if I could dress it up, what I have to bring would still be rotten and foul.  Yet I have a spot at the table with the Master.  Not because of what I had to bring.  No, only because of what Christ offered on my behalf.  You see, he was the offering and the sacrifice for me.  He presented himself and gave what I could never give.  Still he asks me to surrender all that I am to him, so he can transform me and consecrate me to himself.  Yet all that I am or ever will be is not what would earn that spot with God.  The only reason, for my spot at his table, is Jesus.  If not for him, none of us would be welcome, none of us could be free, none of us would be saved, and none of us would have true fellowship with God.  When the bible speaks of there being only one way to the Father, the master, it is speaking truth.  Nothing we can bring or offer would save us.  It is only when we submit to Christ, and accept what he gave us, his own righteousness, that we can actually have a dish/offering that will allow us the privilege of a seat at the table. 

The other amazing difference, between the show and our journey, is there was only one spot to be awarded or won on the show.  With God’s table, it is open to all.  All who wish to come and dine and commune.  All we have to do is submit.   Lay down what we have and what we are, take up Christ, and come to the table.  So amazing!  I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, yet he loves me, He accepts me!  It is to amazing to even imagine.       

All the glory, all the acclaim, all the accolades go to God and to him alone, our master.  Christ gets all the credit, and God gets all the glory, but we get a place with God!  Who needs acclaim and glory, I just want to commune with my Savior and my Father.  To be in his family and sit at his table.  Isn’t it amazing, his love, his grace, his provision?  I will never stop being amazed!  I hope you never lose the wonder either or go back to trying to earn what you were so freely given.  A seat at his table, the true final table, is available for you today, I hope you join me there with him as we commune together with The Master of it all!  

Scriptures: Gal. 3:1-14, Luke 14:12-24, Psalms 23:5, Luke 12:37, Song of Solomon 2:4, Matt. 22:1-14, Luke 13:29, Matt. 26:29, Rev. 19:7-9, Rev. 3:20, Romans 8:31-39