Dress Well, Test Well

Day 33: Matthew 22:1-33

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew‬ ‭22:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

One of the things that our parents teach us from the beginning of our lives is to know how to dress appropriately for every occasion. Is there an impending winter storm with bone-chilling temperatures? You are not to wear shorts (though I see students every day disobeying this rule).

So, how about at the end of time? What kind of clothes will be appropriate to wear then? We may feel sorry for this guy who is singled out because of his attire that didn’t fit the occasion.

Yet, he didn’t prepare himself the right way. Yes, there is a right way and a wrong way in this life.

Jesus said, in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”

We also know what Paul said in Galatians 3:26-27: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

Go ahead and prepare yourself for the end of time by going all-in with your trust in Jesus. You won’t regret it.

We actually had a student in our ministry at IUPUI who showed up to our 8 am Life Group one time in a stunning outfit. Dress, shoes, hair, the whole bit. The rest of us were barely awake and chilling in sweats. We, of course, asked her, “Why are you all dressed up?” She responded, “Dress well, test well.” She prepared for each test by dressing to the max.

We would do well to take her advice when it comes to clothing ourselves with Jesus. May we dress well so that we test well when this life is all said and done.

"The closing proverbial saying, (For many are invited, but few are chosen) succinctly sums up why this man has been ejected. He is of the class of those who have been invited, but not chosen. In other words, he responded favorably to the gracious invitation, but refused to fully embrace the norms of the kingdom, as indicated by his lack of proper attire. On the other hand, those who are chosen (ἐκλεκτοί, eklektoi) are those who take seriously their calling and freely adhere to the demands of discipleship." - Chouinard, L. (1997). Matthew (Mt 22:14)