But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. (Matt. 22:11)
Did you hear about the million dollar failure? In a marlin fishing tournament off the coast of North Carolina, Andy caught an 883 lb. fish, more than 300 pounds larger than his nearest competitor. It set a tournament record, and set off a whole lot of whooping and hollering. Until they found out about Pete.
On that glorious day, while the celebration was at its height, Pete slipped away to a bait shop and bought the license he had told everyone he already had. I don't know why he didn't have it. If it was a cash flow problem, I guarantee the skipper or the contestant would have been more than happy to spend that $15 to save that million. Too busy? Too pig-headed? Forgot? Just excuses. One lie detector test later, tournament officials were forced to disqualify the catch. It's amazing how fast joy can turn into bitterness and tears. The rules were clear, and applied to everyone – no exceptions! A $15 failure cost them the prize.
In the Parable of the Wedding Feast, Jesus points out a man. This guy had just been walking down the street, minding his own business, when a royal servant grabbed him by the elbow and dragged him to the palace. “Stand here in this line and get a wedding suit, then go in and join the party.” But lines are bo-o-oring.
The clink of wine glasses and aromas of the feast got to be too much for him. He would just slip in for a bit. No one would notice, and then he'd come back for the suit. I'm sure he meant to, but one thing led to another and before he knew it, he was facing a very angry King in the stinky, mud-spattered rags he had come in with. Too late to change. Too late to get back in line. Too late for excuses. Judgment Day caught him among the goats. Don't be like Pete, and miss the Prize because of the Price. Get your eternal wedding suit today – no lines, no waiting!
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Rom. 13:14)
Here's a link to the story:
http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/18199/angler+makes+1-million+mistake+in+north+carolina+marlin+tournament/
