PALACE

And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, inn the court of the garden of the king’s PALACE – Esther 1:5

Grace is like a PALACE with various compartments and numerous rooms and chalets, full of royal treasures and riches. Palaces of mortal kings – such as king Ahasuerus of Persia and Media – are but poor imitations of the PALACE of GRACE! Consider the features of this earthly kingdom: a continental coverage from India to Ethiopia; an extensive colony of more than one hundred and twenty-seven provinces; a fabulous feast by royalty for thousands of officials and subject – “the powers of Persian and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces”; stupendous riches and splendour of mortal majesty; and a phenomenal duration of festivities that lasted one hundred and eighty days (Est. 1: 1-4). If a transient kingdom and passing palace could display such grandeur, how much more God’s eternal Kingdom and the divinely-designed Palace in which the Riches of Grace are resident and displayed for our exploration, experience, and enjoyment?

Like the king’s feast at Shushan to which all the people were invited – “from great to small” – the Palace of Grace invites all: “For the GRACE of God that brings salvation has appeared to ALL men…” (Tit.2: 11). Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King on the Throne in the Palace of Grace, manifested on earth with the mission of lifting mankind from pitiable levels of existence to higher realms of life. His Mission statement is: “…I have come that they may have life; and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jh.10:10b). Grace “has appeared to ALL”! No one would have an excuse before God for failing to access – through the New Birth – the Palace of Grace, to receive, experience, and explore His free, but invaluable gift of salvation. Unfortunately, many have shunned God’s “Shushan,” taking His Grace for granted. They think it is too cheap and easy a Way to salvation. They want to work for and earn their salvation with hands full of good works, morality, religion, ethics and such “filthy rags”.

There are others who endeavour to cross the threshold into the Palace of Grace, but loiter aimlessly around and never get to explore and experience the unlimited pleasures, treasures, provisions, realities and riches of redemption in the Palace. The Palace of Grace can be accessed by all, without exception. The Grace of God is neither hidden nor hoarded. It has appeared to all human beings. It is not the exclusive reserve of a special set of people. It does not recognize or respect colour, class or creed. Like the benevolent man (in Luke 14: 16-24), God invites ALL mortals into His Palace of Grace; to feast on the bounties of redemption. Unfortunately, many give excuses why they cannot come. The Lord says: “Come, for all things are now ready” (v.17b). But men are experts at framing excuses: “But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it: I ask you to have me excused (Lk.14:18). The first was an excuse of possessions, followed excuse of profession (v.19), and then, one of pleasure (v.20).

What a privilege and favour to be invited and admitted into the Palace of Grace, where “the God of all grace” sits on His Throne of Grace (1Pet.5:10). Is there an excuse you are fabricating for not accepting God’s eternal Invitation into His Palace of Grace? Put away every excuse today. Receive His free gift of salvation by accepting Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and personal Saviour. The Palace of Grace then becomes your abode. Like Mephibosheth, you’ll be privileged to dine “continually at the king’s table” (2Sam.9:13). Where nature or conditions disqualified you, Grace will always qualify you!