Reservation Guaranteed

Prepping for Christmas this year meant calling the Honey Baked Ham store and reserving our succulent selection for Christmas dinner. The woman on the phone gave us our reservation number and eagerly informed us that our meal would be ready on the day requested. All of my family loves the flavorful ham that they produce.

This morning we headed out to pick up our reserved items from the local Honey Baked Ham store. Upon entering the parking lot we were shocked at the number of people that were lined up around the store. "Is this for people who have just showed up or do they all have reservations?"

Grudgingly, I got out of the car, bundled up for it was only 27 degrees out and stood in line. Did I mention that it was really cold? An hour later I was inside the store preparing to meet with the girl behind the counter. " I have a reservation for the combo pack", I proudly shared with her. It seemed odd to me that she didn't ask me for the reservation number, but I was just glad to be out of the cold and close to the check out.

A man that was in line behind me started to request his order that had been reserved, when he was told that although he had reserved it, the order had not come in and so they were not able to guarantee his reservation. "We have a similar product that we could offer you", the counter person suggested to him.

Several thoughts began to run through my mind.

When we reserve something, doesn't it mean to set something aside?

• A table that is reserved is for a specific time.
• A hotel room is reserved with the number of beds, preferences and dates.
• Liquid is reserved in a recipe to be used later.
• A reservation is a guarantee.

Of course this reminded me that we have been given a guaranteed reservation

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

Reservations are kept here

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27

Have you made your reservation?