The Holy Scripture is not just another interesting read but is a call to action! Inspired by The Holy Spirit countless men and women prophesied of the arrival of Our Savior and when He arrived full of The Holy Spirit and power, He confirmed The Word with signs and wonders. Jesus Christ is the manifested Word and He called us to action as well. Multitudes have read The Word but have not been doers of The Word thus they failed to respond to the calling by The Word. In Matthew chapter 22, Jesus spoke:
1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:
2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,
3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.”
Who restricted access to the wedding? Not the King. Every man and woman were given the opportunity to attend yet they were unwilling to heed the Call. Their interest was not sufficient to set aside all else in order to attend the wedding. Their priorities lied elsewhere because they were not being led by THE SPIRIT. The King provided a “second witness” to His attempt to bless the people:
4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’
5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
Man’s sensual wisdom prevailed and blinded them from being blessed. They disrespected the King’s authority and power by their actions. Some were too busy and some were simply wicked and lawless. The excuses were many but the result was the same- they failed to answer The Call. The mind would tell you this parable was limited to the call of Israel and it was intended and restricted to the children of Israel. Wrong! This parable goes beyond history and applies to this very day. It is just a relevant today as it was when Jesus spoke these Words two thousand years ago. FATHER isn’t limiting those who are called, men are by their unwillingness to respond.
7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.
9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’
10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
The King was determined to have the wedding even though many invitations were unfulfilled and rejected. FATHER has given each of us a calling and HE has also given us the choice to reject that calling. It is solely up to us how we respond. Once we make the decision to earnestly seek HIM, the choice becomes so obvious in our eyes versus the alternative. FATHER is determined to have the wedding AND the guests no matter who rejects HIS invitation.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
We have another choice to make. Are we preparing ourselves to attend or do we simply try to do the minimum in order to attend the wedding. There is a ramification to being unprepared. If you choose to attend but fail to prepare accordingly, you will not be allowed to stay in the midst of The King. You will be escorted away from The Glory of the Wedding. We actually are given two choices in the matter. Respond to The Call and once we respond, make preparations to fully embrace The Call. Those who are “chosen” are those who decide to be chosen. We must quit acting like FATHER places restrictions that most are unable to attain. FATHER is the limiting factor, our decision to respond is. Respond and embrace The Call today!