THE WEDDING GARMENT

 

Gaily dressed, with elegant composure, I drew near to the venue.

All smiles, I prepared for entry.

My outfit alone, na kill them.

Sincerely, I wasn't prepared for what was coming.

Alas, I got it,

The shock of my life!

Access blocked, entry denied!!

'Oh, come on. I've got the invite', I said, indignation evident in my voice.

'Very well. Erm, what about the wedding garment?'

'I have on a better outfit, I care not about the garment proffered'. I was getting really furious.

' I'm sorry then. The garment or no entry.'

'Seriously?'

'Even if you somehow get smuggled in, you'll be thrown out.'

Oh! Really? Aso ebi na by force?

Anger stirred up within me, threatening an explosion.

I turned back,

On the journey home to embark.

But then, I gave it a second thought:

The wedding garment is free.

I know I should have had it before now,

My lack of regard made me disregard it.

Nevertheless, I've been told that the Groom's father is merciful and compassionate,

He will yet provide me with the garment.

To the groom's Father I must run.

An explanation of this analogy?

Your own garment which you hold in high esteem signifies your self righteousness.

The Aso ebi is the righteousness of Jesus, without which we cannot be partakers of God's presence.

Hebrews 4:16 says we should come boldly before the Throne of grace to obtain mercy.

What a wonderful invitation, thrown to all and sundry without any reservation.

Oh what a call of hope.

Yes, the Father, you can access, I mean, with all boldness.

You only have to put off your self righteousness and put on the Aso ebi: Jesus' righteousness.

You know Esther in the Bible?

She was to go in unto the King,

She put on her royal apparel and unto the King she went.

As she went, dressed not in just any garment but in the royal apparel,

So are we to go before the King of Kings, donned in Jesus' righteousness.

Oh! Are you there, thinking, 

' What becomes of my case?

I know neither the Groom nor His Father.

What Aso ebi are you talking about?

How do I get clothed in the righteousness of Jesus?'

Well, my dear, rejoice for help is made available.

To be clothed in Jesus is to accept Him.

To be dressed in Him is to believe in the work of atonement, which for you and I, He did.

It is saying to Him, 'Yes, I believe'.

It is saying, ' I refuse to be puffed up by knowledge, wealth, experience, whatever it may be'.

It is the admittance, 'This Aso ebi is of greater worth than my outfit and I choose to be appareled in it'.

Now, to you, my dear friend.

The garment is provided, why cling to your outfit?

Jesus has paid it all, why hold on to your self righteousness?

After all, before God,

Our self righteousness is nothing but filthy rag.

Rag, in itself, befits not an event.

How much more when modified with filthiness?

It makes evident our level of hopelessness,

When we depend on self righteousness.

Would you rather not be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus and to the Father you obtain access?

Would you rather not dress in His righteousness alone and be declared faultless, before the Throne, to stand?

Beloved, would you rather not?

PS: Write up coined from Matthew 22:11-13 but edited with GRACE AND MERCY graphics. Shalom😊