Clothesline 320 "Expect to be changed"

Did you know that every morning when you wake up, you are being invited by God to a banquet? It’s true! Every day is another opportunity to join God in whatever he’s planned for that day. Jesus’ parable of the king and the wedding banquet is somewhat like that.

The invitations have been sent, and the slaves go out to the invited guests: “The wedding feast is ready! Come to the banquet!” But those that were invited choose not to attend. They have lots of excuses, but they are actually saying: “I’m not interested in your invitation.” And if that’s not bad enough, those invited kill the messengers.

Our God invites us every day to join him in his banquet of life. Sometimes, however, don’t we choose to say no? What about Sunday worship? Don’t we come up with excuses why we are sometimes unable to attend? And then there are those times when we’re asked to help with a church project or any project, for that matter, and we decline.

Here’s something to think about: If someone says to you, “I want to meet you Tuesday at 10 o’clock because so-in-so has left you a large sum of money in his will,” would you say, “You know, Tuesday doesn’t really work for me. Could we make it maybe on Friday afternoon?” No, I don’t think so! You’d clear your calendar and you’d be there. If the meeting was set for 3 o’clock in the morning, you’d be there. Why then is it when we are invited to feast with the King of Kings—why is it that we sometimes ignore the invitation?

This parable continues with the King sending his slaves back to the ungrateful guests, destroying them and burning their city. Seems a little over the top, doesn’t it? Well, not really. Sin has price, and since God has given us everything, does he not have the right to expect us to accept his loving invitation over sin?

After the ungrateful invitees are destroyed, the King sends his slaves out to invite everybody and anybody that they find and to tell them: “Come to the banquet.” Many come, but Scripture tells us that the king becomes enraged because someone is at the feast without a “wedding garment.” A wedding garment? Really? If you invite street people to your party, can you really expect them to show up in tuxedoes? Well, in this case the answer is Yes, because “the Host” Himself will always provide whatever is needed, along with the invitation. This particular guest, however, isn’t willing to be changed…and such a decision isn’t an option! The King of Kings says: “Come as you are, but expect to be changed!” And Paul gives us the perfect description of change:

Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness… take the shield of faith… the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. … (Ephesians 6:11ff)

Jesus says: “You’re invited to the feast; come as you are, but be ready to be changed when you get here.” One cannot stand very long in the presence of Almighty God clothed in sin. So, if you plan to accept his invitation to the feast, expect to be changed, to be enriched, to be reborn.