No Time for God

God's Invitation for You

Time for Ourselves

n this hectic and busy present age, we are always seeking to make time for ourselves, for the things we think are important.  Some want to make more money, to have more entertainment, or to spend more quality time with the family, etc. But when it comes to matters concerning God, we find ourselves saying we have no time for God.  We think He is irrelevant to our lives; so we just don’t make time for Him.  Let us see how God reacts in a parable in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 22.

The King’s Invitation

esus knew that the Jews would reject Him as shown in verses 1-3:

“And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,’ and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.”

Our God, the King, has invited firstly the Jews and then the nations to the marriage feast of His Son, Jesus Christ.  His servants have extended the invitation, but many are not willing to come. 

The King’s Love and Patience

he parable continues with verse 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.”’”

Our God has prepared everything for us to come and enjoy the wedding feast.  Even though we are sinners, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our sin and trespass offering (the fatted cattle), by being crucified (killed) on the cross for us in order to save and justify us.  Actually, God Himself became a man, Jesus (meaning “Jehovah saves”).  He is the only one qualified to be our sin offering because He is the only one without sin.  When He was crucified on the cross, the shedding of His innocent blood fulfilled all God’s righteous requirements to forgive us of all our sins and our debt to God was paid in full.  By faith in Jesus Christ, we can therefore come before God to enjoy salvation and all the riches of Jesus Christ as a feast!

No Time for God

nfortunately, many rejected God’s invitation in ignorance.  The parable continues with verse 5:

“But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 

The gospel of Luke added:

 “But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’  And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’  Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come,’” (Luke 14:18-20).

The worst is that some even persecuted the servants of God and killed them (verses 6-7):

“And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.  But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.” (This portion specifically refers to the Jews, who rejected Jesus Christ and persecuted His apostles. In the year 70AD, God sent the Roman armies under Titus to destroy them and the city of Jerusalem.)

Many of us have seemingly legitimate reasons not to receive God’s wonderful invitation.  We have our education and career to pursue.  We are busy taking care of our family. There are many good, noble and honorable goals we want to fulfill.  But many do not realize the seriousness of ignoring God’s invitation to receive salvation through Jesus Christ.  Rejection will lead them to face the wrath of God’s judgment for eternity.

The Invitation Extended to All Nations

fter the Jews rejected Jesus Christ, the gospel of salvation by grace was preached to the Gentile world in verses 8 to 11:

“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’  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.”

God, being rich in mercy, is inviting you today.  Will you receive the invitation?  Do not repeat the same mistake as those who rejected the great salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Wedding Garment

ot only did God prepare the wedding feast, but He also prepared the wedding garment as stated in verses 11-13:

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.  So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.  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.’”

Not only was Jesus Christ our sin offering, but He also became our “garment of salvation” and “robe of righteousness” for us to put on (Isaiah 61:10).  As the Spirit, He desires to live in us and to clothe us. In Galatians 3:27, it is written:

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Through faith in Christ, He becomes your life within you.  And through baptism, He becomes your righteousness to cover you. Fallen man’s righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  With our own righteousness, we cannot stand before God.  Praise God, He has made Christ to be our righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30) through faith and baptism into Him. Why not take Christ?  Rejecting such a great salvation has serious consequences!

The Bride of Christ

ho then is the Bride of Christ?  At the end of the Bible, Revelation 19:7-9 says,

“‘Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.  Then he said to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’”

The bride of Christ today is His church, comprised of everyone who truly received Jesus Christ as their Savior. After being saved, His life within us will change us day by day to transform us into His glorious image. Isn’t God marvelous?  He not only prepared a wonderful feast and provided us with the best wedding garment, but He also constitutes us to become the church, the bride of Jesus Christ.  How can we not have time for our wonderful God?

Accepting God’s Invitation

riend, do not postpone your decision to receive God’s invitation.  Make time for God right now.  Open up your heart to Him and pray: “Lord Jesus, I want to receive Your invitation.  I repent of all my sins and receive You as my Savior and my life.  Lord, prepare me for the coming wedding feast at Your return.”