The One Who Sees
If you are "In Christ" it should be visible.
The parable of the wedding feast has a horrible beginning, a great middle, and a disturbing end. One guest who had no business being there but for grace suddenly found himself tossed outside into the darkness.
Matthew 22:11–13 (ESV) “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The parable of the wedding feast has a horrible beginning, a great middle, and a disturbing end. One guest who had no business being there but for grace suddenly found himself tossed outside into the darkness.
Matthew 22:11–13 (ESV) “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
He accepted the invitation. But nothing changed. There was no visible identification. No joy, peace, purity, righteousness, fruit, and faithfulness. He thought it would be fine. He was wrong.
How often we think in such simplistic terms concerning our "great salvation". Believe, pray, attend, move on. Forgetting, Jesus raised the standard because He paid a higher price! He did it all so we could be a part. But being a part means change, transformation. No garment, not good.
I think of how often Christians look no different from the world. I know a girl, saved from lesbianism, on twitter she is on fire; every 30 minutes sharing God's powerful truth for her life. It is amazing. She inspires me. She is visible. Then there are others on twitter, Christians celebrating celebrities just like the rest of the world trying to "fit in." We use our money just like the world. We throw tantrums at petty grievances just like the world. This to our own shame.
Its interesting to note: the King is the one who found out the "pretender." No one else saw him. He fooled everyone but the ONE who mattered most. He slipped in going through the motions. But he was caught out... and speechless.
A humble reminder to us all, there is no fooling HIM.
PRAYER:
Father, humbly I seek to change ever more into the image of Christ. Compassion, meekness, purity, love for the lost. I can't fool you. I don't want to try. And I must set an example. Help. In Jesus Name.
Amen.
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