PARTICIPATION IN A DESTINATION WEDDING

Jesus told the disciples in John 14:1-3 that in His Father’s house were many mansions, that He was going to heaven to prepare a place for them, and that He would come back to earth to get them. Along with Jesus’ disciples, all ready believers will participate in the destination wedding, which will take place in heaven. This will be the event that believers have been anxiously awaiting. The groom will be Jesus Christ, and the bride will be the body of Christ, consisting of believers from all nations and socio-economic groups.

Jesus, while on earth, gave two parables of a wedding invite. In Matthew 22:1–14, Jesus shares the story of a king who prepares a wedding reception for his son and sends invitations by his servants to chosen individuals; however, they have made other plans and refused to come, and they abused and murdered the servants who brought the invitations. Receiving the report of his murdered servants, the king sends out his army, and they retaliate by killing the murderers and destroying their cities. The king then sends servants out to the highways to gather commoners who have accepted the invitation. All came appropriately dressed but one, whom the king had removed from the reception when he saw his attire.

In the second parable found in Luke 14:15–24, Jesus uses similar imagery to tell of a man who prepares a great banquet and sends his servant to the invited guest, saying, “Come, for all things are now ready.” Nonetheless, they all had excuses for not attending. When this was reported to the man, he had his servants bring in people who were poor, maimed, halt, and blind from the streets, lanes of the city, highways, and hedges, until his house was filled.

Similar to these parables, when the date and time for participation in the body of Christ’s destination wedding happens, there will be those who are deceived and decline the invitation because they place more value and commitment in their own agendas. However, the scriptures reveal that there will still be tremendous attendance, for God has extended the invitation to all.

Access to this wedding is determined by an individual’s acceptance of the invitation, and this grand event will only occur once. Hence, it behooves all of us to accept Jesus’ invitation, be ready, and remain his faithful followers. Revelation 19:7-9 talks about the marriage of the Lamb and declares blessed are they who are called to this event. I plan to participate, and I pray that you will as well.