My son and his fiancé have been planning their wedding. It’s quite the challenge in this pandemic. They picked the date long before stores and venues shut down. They chose the anniversary of a disastrous, near fatal accident my son had five years ago. Both had decided to redeem the bad memory and turn it into a good one. They had no idea a different disaster would be looming over the plans and COVID 19 would be clouding the day.
Today, while contemplating where to get my dress and hearing that some of the guests have already (and understandably) declined the invitation for fear of exposing themselves to the virus, a parable came to mind.
In Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. When the king sends his servants out to gather those who were invited, the servants find guests who don’t want to come to the feast and have many excuses. Some of these reluctant guests even go as far as killing the messengers. The king then tells other servants to go and gather anyone they can find in the streets and bring them to the feast. All the attendees must however wear the garments the king provides. When he surveys the party and finds one who decided not to wear the proper wedding attire, he has him tied up and thrown into the “outer darkness”.
While a pandemic is a valid excuse to not attend a wedding on earth, there will not be a valid excuse for declining God’s invitation to His Kingdom wedding. Ignoring God’s call is a detrimental decision.
In Jesus Christ, God extends Heaven to everyone. He flings the door to the party wide open. God supplies everything we need to attend. We don’t have to worry about looking shabby or inappropriate for this occasion because He has even made provisions for what we should wear. Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins becomes our perfect cover. What a high price He paid for us to attend. While I will carefully pick a dress for my son’s occasion, I could never afford the clothes God provided for me on the day of His great wedding feast.
Dear friend, if you have not considered the feast of the King, if there are many things that are more important than giving your life to Jesus, or if you think about declining the invitation altogether, I want you to reconsider. RSVP to Jesus soon because time is running out. Your Maker would love to welcome you to the feast. Leave what you consider important and go.
Ephesians 5:15-16
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
~
(Pictures and Devotional, Heidi Viars, 2020)
Heidi Viars 
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