She was invited to the party, and given a sexy dress to wear. She was given a bar of soap, and a list of things to say and do in polite company. The host was generous. Everyone had been given not only the invite but the means to fit in and enjoy the occasion.
Why, then, did she show up at the door wearing her hair in pigtails, a pair of ripped jeans and a safety pin through her ear, and dirt from last week's camping trip still under her fingernails?
Why, when the host greeted her, did she respond by saying, "Nice house, can I crash here? It's a neat place and all, but these people that are trying to help me out are fucking pricks. Hey, where's the cake I'm starving?"
Is it any surprise that she was immediately removed from the property and asked to never return?
For a less modern take on the parable, check out Matthew 22:1-14
This stuck out on a couple levels, but mostly the part about the guy getting thrown out for not having wedding clothes. On first glance, the host seems like a bit of a dick, but upon reading the notes at the bottom of the page (study bibles rock), I find out that if all these guys were brought in off the streets, they must have been provided with the correct apparel at the door. So the reason this guy was thrown out was because he wanted the reward but couldn't put in the effort. He wasn't respectful.
Much the same with many of us. Me included.
The kingdom of heaven is like the party we're all invited to. Naturally, we hear the good news and we're clueless. What kind of behaviour is expected of us? What do we wear? What do we say? What do we drink? How do we show respect and thanks to Christ for inviting us? How do we worship? How do we invite others? How do we RSVP?
There's this book in almost every hotel room that has the answers. The code of conduct, the explanation, the expectations that are on us if we intend to be men and women of God. It's rediculously accessible. All we have to do is open it, read a couple verses, pray about it, read a couple more verses, and try to follow it. Put in a half-decent effort at some sort of application. Recognize the invitation and be thankful for it.
(Big words coming from the unwashed ripped jeans and pigtails girl)
