Will You Be One of the Many or the Few?
“And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” -Matt 22:13-14 (KJV)
When you read the parable of the marriage of the king’s son in Matt 22:1-14, you can’t help but wonder how did the person get into the wedding feast without the proper wedding clothes? Why did his servants let him in? In ancient times when invited to an important wedding the king would provide the proper dress attire which consisted of a particular or special wedding garment. In this parable the man discovered did not have on the proper garment but did you notice that only the king could see it, the servants were not aware that an “intruder” had snuck in.
What a parallel for us today; for all churchgoers in modern times. Many say they are Christians for in saying this their justification consists mainly in their regular church attendance. You know the kind that never misses a Sunday (or Mass), and always seems to be there. To be seen by others as well. Yes sir, many are big on this and friends that is the extent of their religion and relationship with God’s only begotten Son – Jesus Christ.
The man without the proper wedding clothes in the parable decided not to take the proper dress even though it was offered and free.
His presence there was purely rebellious against the awesome authority and power of the inviting king. This man when discovered and confronted was speechless for his improper dress which revealed his sin and therefore judgment was to follow. Folks, this man when discovered by the king, was exposed by his unbelief, rebelliousness and sin and he knew it and that’s why he had nothing to say.
Friends, this parable is a flag waving at those who profess to be Christians but don’t live it. And there are many that fit this mold. They’re big on church going, singing some songs, listening to the words of the sermon but actually their lives are filled with unrepentant sin. Their righteousness in the Lord’s eyes is tarnished for they lack sincerity in confession of their sin, reality in repentance, lack of humility and do not obey the word of the Lord. Now this threads its way deep into our lives – from outward sins to inward – those no one sees but are there nonetheless. From improper motives, to lust, to hate, pride, arrogance, with no sincere desire to have a personal relationship with the Lord. They live according to what they like, to what they want. They are self-righteous wearing the clothes of their hypocrisy.
Listen… many are good people and seem to say the right things and do many nice things but … without the right relationship with the Lord, they have nothing. Nice houses and gobs of money mean nothing in the Lord’s eyes. When you die, it’s gone and the only thing remaining is your standing with God. What’s yours today?
This is huge with Christians today – they have no depth in their spiritual walk with the Lord. Little dedicated and sincere prayer time. No confession of their sin; no Godly sorrow for same. Some religions don’t preach salvation by the grace of God to their people (now this is a tragedy).
God takes a back seat in their lives but oh yes, they spend that hour in the pew every Sunday. In reality, they have no desire to follow and be obedient to Almighty God, instead they do things their way according to their agenda, not God’s. Their righteousness is like filthy rags (Isa 64:6) which translates into improper wedding garments. We may look good on the outside but inside we are naked and shameful based on our unconfessed and unrepentant sin. Many are like this today and will not enter into His rest. Many ‘Christians’ will not know real salvation not because they can’t but because they won’t!!
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” -Rom 13:14 (KJV)
In the Bible, beautiful clothing represents our spiritual relationship with the Lord and this is totally dependent on what we say, think and do. It is also based on our submission to the Lord’s will; knowing and doing what His word says. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 13:14, that we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ as a garment indicating that we are clothed in His righteousness and justified through our faith in Him. The huge lingering question for all of us is, do we have the correct garments on, are we ready for the wedding feast of the Lamb? And have we arrayed ourselves in the wedding garment of holiness? Will we be counted as the “chosen” that will stay at the wedding feast or be cast out in terrible judgment? Some very sobering words to ponder on today. Please, if you are not sure that you have on the right clothes, seek the Lord now, if you call upon Him in sincerity He will hear and answer your call.
The bottom-line: are you clothed in His righteousness today through a walking-talking faith and trust in His ultimate sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary? Or are you in rebellion of His authority and majesty, doing your own thing, surrendering and submitting to no one but thriving in your own wisdom and understanding? Remember the Lord’s message to the Laodicean church in Rev 3:17-18, He urges us to obtain clothes from Him to cover the shameful nakedness of our sin. Get them on today!
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” -Rev 3:15-18 (KJV)
-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman
THE KING IS COMING FOR HIS TRUE BRIDE and Not the Pretenders!