White Wing Messenger? - Church of God of Prophecy

MESSAGES
DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor
A Beggar in the
King’s Court
I love to travel. One of the highlights of
my life is discovering new locations and
soaking in the beauty of the world that
God has created. Sure, there are some
parts more exciting than others. Moving
through an airport security line is low on
my list of fun activities, but arriving at the
destination helps erase that anxiety.
During one vacation, I was particularly
bubbly and upbeat, mostly due to the
incredible savings we received when we
booked our trip. Imagine paying for the
janitor’s closet and getting the king’s
quarters, and you get a clue of how I
felt. I was walking around in paradise,
determined not to miss a moment. I even
told my wife, “I feel like one of those
beggars that got invited to the king’s feast
because no one else showed up.”
You’ll remember that Jesus told the
parable of the Great Banquet in Matthew
22. The king had prepared a wedding feast
for his son, only to be disappointed in
those who ignored his invitation. When he
realized those who were invited weren’t
found worthy and did not treat his
invitation with due respect, he filled up
the banquet hall with random attendees.
While I enjoyed my moment in the sun,
I’m at a loss for creating a winning
and successful life plan that allows me
access to eternal life.
not everyone shared my
enthusiasm. I could see it
in their faces and even
overheard random complaints. This place
wasn’t quite as nice as they thought it
could be or the service wasn’t as detailoriented
as they would have liked. I knew
many would hit the Internet to offer
scathing reviews while I would relate my
own experience as glowing. We shared
the same location and most likely identical
accommodations, but our assessments
were polar opposites. Why?
There are people who think they
deserve the best and people who know
that they don’t. I landed on the latter end
of that, especially in that instance. It was a
random blessing that placed us there, not
anything I could have orchestrated on my
own. I hadn’t invested the same amount
of time or resources that some of them
had, but I was enjoying the benefits all the
same. It reminds me of another parable
found in Matthew 20 of the workers in
the vineyard.
“So when evening had come, the
owner of the vineyard said to his steward,
‘Call the laborers and give them their
wages, beginning with the last to the
first.’ And when those came who were
hired about the eleventh hour, they each
received a denarius. But when the first
came, they supposed that they would
receive more; and they likewise received
each a denarius. And when they had
received it, they complained against the
landowner, saying, ‘These last men have
worked only one hour, and you made
them equal to us who have borne the
burden and the heat of the day.’ But he
answered one of them and said, ‘Friend,
I am doing you no wrong. Did you not
agree with me for a denarius? Take what
is yours and go your way. I wish to give to
this last man the same as to you. Is it not
lawful for me to do what I wish with my
own things? . . .’” (vv. 8–15 NKJV).
God never said this life would be fair.
Things are not just going to “even out.”
I’m glad because I’m at a loss for creating
a winning and successful life plan that
allows me access to eternal life. Left to
my own devices and resources, I would
surely fail.
It’s the grace of God that makes all the
difference. I need to constantly remind
myself of that to maintain the proper
perspective and have an attitude of
gratitude to the One who is giving me
exactly what I don’t deserve.
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