Story based on Matthew 22:14 Jesus tells the Parable of the Wedding Feast (NIV)
Have you ever hosted a party and no one showed up, or just a few showed up? I am sure we have all been disappointed in some way, our expectations taking a nose dive. Ken and I years ago planned a small get-together for a number of couples who worked with us in an organization. We planned the menu, had a table of appetizers set up and I had sent invitations with RSVP. Although I did not get a return on the RSVP, a couple did tell us in passing they were coming. We really did not know what to expect. As it turned out just 2 couples showed up and one of the couples had eaten before they came! I was angry, disappointed, hurt. All the work in planning and no one even had the courtesy to RSVP. We heard excuses, such as it was the time of year (Christmas season); they were too busy, they had unexpected family come in, etc. Whatever excuse, they still did not bother to RSVP.
There was once a King this happened to. He was planning his son’s wedding feast. In that time 2 invitations sent when there was a wedding banquet given. One was to let the people know there would be a banquet and ask them to attend. The second sent right before the banquet telling them it was ready. This King invited his guests 3 times! The first time the guests received the invitation they refused to come. The King sent a 2nd invitation saying “I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fatted calf butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.” The guests ignored the invitation. To add insult to injury the guests mistreated the servants giving the invitations out and even killed them! The King was so mad he sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then the King had another idea, he sent more servants out into the city to invite whomever they could find. Therefore, the servants went out into the city and gathered all they could find, the good and the bad and the wedding hall filled with guests.
The King noticed a man who did not have on wedding clothes at the banquet. It was customary to wear wedding clothes at the banquet. It would considered an insult if you were not dressed in wedding clothes. The King had the man thrown outside into the darkness.
God invites us repeatedly to join him at his banquet he has planned that will last an eternity. Repeatedly, more than 3 times even he sends us the RSVP. The wedding clothes he wants us to wear are our garments of righteousness needed to enter God’s Kingdom. God provides this garment to us all but it is up to us to put it on.
Have you accepted his invitation? Have you sent the RSVP? Have you dressed in your wedding garment?
Copyright Kathie Fracaro
