Matthew 22 verses 11-13 (NIV)
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Romans chapter 13 verse 14 (NIV)
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
These verses in Matthew caught my attention. In this parable, Jesus tells us that a man managed to gain entrance to the wedding without wearing the right clothes. That got me thinking about dress codes that we have to comply with in certain circumstances. Last year I was privileged to be invited to attend the King’s Garden Party. When I received my invitation, there was a dress code included, albeit with a wide enough scope for people to choose what to wear, and to make people watching on the day very interesting. Another event where it is evident why you are there by what you are wearing, is a graduation ceremony. The colour of the flashes on the robes generally indicates what was studied and what level of qualification was achieved. Of course, you only get to attend if you have studied and achieved the necessary marks. I’m not sure why the man in the parable was not wearing wedding clothes. Perhaps he thought that the dress requirement didn’t apply to him, or that his presence at the wedding was important enough regardless of what he was wearing.
Paul reminds the Roman church that we are to clothe ourselves with Christ. Our own behaviour, attitudes and achievements are not sufficient to get us into heaven, although many people believe that they are good enough. Sadly, for them, that’s not the case and we need to be sure we too are wearing the right clothes given to us by Christ, if we want to get into heaven and attend that wedding feast.
Dear Lord,
Thank You that You have made it possible for us to get to heaven, and we need not rely on our own strength and achievements. Help me always to remember to put on Christ every day as I go about my daily life. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.