Endurance
Growing up my athlete friends use to tell me that there were two types of running: speed and endurance. The issue was to find out which kind of running was best for the athlete. The speed race requires a sudden burst of energy. The runs last from a few seconds to a few minutes depending of the length of the run. These are typically used for track and field races. The endurance race is a longer race. The energy is used along the race, not suddenly. The marathon – the longest endurance race – is approximately 26 miles long (42 kilometers). The fastest runners finish in approximately 2 hours. This race is so gruesome and challenging that just finishing – even if you are last - is considered a victory.
The story of the race between the hare and the tortoise is an extreme example of this. The hare – a fast animal – thought that it could take its time because the tortoise was very slow. The hare underestimated the tortoise determination and endurance. Something else the hare might have not known is the fact that its speed is in short distances, not long distances. The tortoise could crawl long distances slowly.
If we apply this story to our lesson this week the Jews are the hare. Those that came from the street, fields, highways and byways are the tortoise. Not because they came in late, but because when they came in they endured the distance to get to the finish line. The Jews looked at the competition and thought that victory was sure thing. They thought they had a fast track to heaven. To the others there was no competition. In fact, they knew they could not arrive unless they had Christ's help. All were running to arrive, and they would rather not arrive if by their missing the finish line others would finish. This is why Christ told the Jews, "… Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you" (Matthew 21:31). Christ told the Jews that in rejecting Him they had rejected the rock that was the foundation of the temple. Therefore the rock would fall on them and grind them to powder. So, Jesus told them, "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (Matthew 21:43).
Jesus illustrated this concept to them with the parable of the wedding feast. Let us read it,
Mat22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Mat22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat22:4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
Mat22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Mat22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Mat22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Mat22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Mat22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Mat22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Mat22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The first two calls to the feast is the giving of the Gospel to the Jews. Which as we said above they rejected it. Ellen White says about the parable,
The third call to the feast represents the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles. The king said, "The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage."
The king's servants who went out into the highways "gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good." It was a mixed company. Some of them had no more real regard for the giver of the feast than had the ones who rejected the call. The class first bidden could not afford, they thought, to sacrifice any worldly advantage for the sake of attending the king's banquet. And of those who accepted the invitation, there were some who thought only of benefiting themselves. They came to share the provisions of the feast, but had no desire to honor the king.
When the king came in to view the guests, the real character of all was revealed. For every guest at the feast there had been provided a wedding garment. This garment was a gift from the king. By wearing it the guests showed their respect for the giver of the feast. But one man was clothed in his common citizen dress. He had refused to make the preparation required by the king. The garment provided for him at great cost he disdained to wear. Thus he insulted his lord. To the king's demand, "How camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" he could answer nothing. He was self-condemned. Then the king said, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness." COL 309
As the parable continues we realize that not all that accepted the third call invitation were worthy either. One man was not dressed appropriately. Ellen White says the man did not wear the garment provided for him by the King. This was an affront to the King. The King had no choice but to send the man away. True worth in this parable was measured in accepting the invitation the King gave and the garment He gave them to wear. True worth in our lives comes from accepting Christ's righteousness as yours. Only then we will endure. And, "… he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13).
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Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com