one group would say the rich man told them he had chosen them to be his special friends, but that he expected them to eat a special diet to retain his favor, another group would say that the rich man's son loved them so much he was willing to die for them, and for everybody else as well, and that all you had to do to get into the banquet was acknowledge the sacrifice the son had made.
Another group would say the rich man will feed you if you pray five times a day facing a certain city.
none of these groups would be able to take you to the place where the feast was being held, and show you the banquet, but they would all be very very sure the place existed, and that you would be welcomed if you showed up, and asked to be let in, as long as you had done what the rich man wanted.
these groups would also tell you the other groups were evil, or at best mistaken, and would never get any food. Occasionally one of these groups would murder a bunch of folks from another group, and say the rich man told them to.
For your parable to be accurate, we would have to assume that God reveals himself to us directly on a pretty regular basis- he has not done so to me; (no sarcasm, just statement of fact)if he does so I would be happy to accept his invitation.
Very well said. I've never seen an invitation, let alone the guy running the banquet! All I've ever seen are third and fourth hand accounts of possible invitations. That's not good enough in my book!
My question, in sincerity; have you revealed yourself to God? directly? and on a pretty regular basis?
I ask this because God reveals Himself frequently to those who would seek him out.
It is my belief that G-d has revealed Himself to everyone. What would you have Him do to reveal Himself to you?
Shalom.