When my mom passed away from cancer seven months ago, the pain was unbearable. I’d hold my breath as I listened to her voicemail messages just to hear her voice and scroll through my phone to see pictures I’d taken while visiting her last year. Anything I could do to hold on to her a little longer.

I have a picture of her chair in the living room where her blanket and coffee cup – the one I’m using right now – waited for her return. But her chair was empty.

I’ve written stories about empty chairs before concerning loss and the longing involved with that type of pain. But recently, God revealed a deeper longing through an empty table. Let me explain:

My mom is in Heaven, and I miss her terribly, but I KNOW she’s doing just fine – better than I can comprehend. We’re separated by distance right now, but I’m going to Heaven one day. (Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the cross for me – for all of us!!)

I’m on my way home to sit with my Lord and Savior at His table with others who also accepted Jesus. My mom is already there. My grandparents, mother-in-law and father-in-law, and many friends are waiting for the feast to begin. There’s an empty chair at THAT table reserved for me.

But there’s an EMPTY table there too, and a deeper longing I don’t understand. Scripture tells us there is no pain or sorrow for us in Heaven, so this longing doesn’t belong to those who’ve gone ahead of us, and it won’t belong to you or me when we arrive. But right now, our Heavenly Father knows WHO those seats are for and who still needs to accept the invitation to His feast.

I know how much a picture of an empty chair has hurt me, even though this separation from my mom is temporary. I can’t even imagine the pain an empty table must bring our Heavenly Father, knowing the separation from those who reject Him will be forever.

Oh, the stories He wants to share with those souls. The answers He has to all their questions. The loving way He wants to welcome them home. Will He pull out the chair for each? Gently touch their shoulders and smile? Point out others at the table who’ve been waiting?

But the entire table sits empty right now. More than one individual is refusing Jesus Christ as Savior. More than one soul will choose to ignore the invitation, to come up with a thousand excuses to walk away, to cling to the world and what it has to offer – even though they know the things of this world won’t last forever.

And yet, if I do nothing to pass along the invitation to those precious souls, to remind them to keep going and not lose hope when the world sinks deeper into despair, and to explain that accepting Jesus Christ is the easiest, best decision I’ve ever made…

Then the long, empty table waiting in Heaven only grows longer.

And my Father’s heart, heavier.

Please forgive me, Lord, for the opportunities I’ve wasted. I’m sorry for the times I’ve let You down and the pain I’ve caused You. Please help me to lovingly offer Your invitation, so every table at Your feast will be filled. In Jesus’ name, I ask and pray. Amen.

“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.'” 

Matthew 22:1-3 NIV.

Oh, precious soul. Please don’t refuse to come to the feast. There’s a place for you in Heaven too. Confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. If you just did that, I’ll see you at the Lord’s table. 

---