Matthew 22
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants[a] to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
When I was in high school registering for the draft was required of all young men of age. If your number came up you were chosen and you did not have a choice about which branch of service you would be inducted into. Many young men did not want to be drafted into the Marines.
At the time a draftee received a military designation of US and an enlisted man received a designation of RA. In Vietnam it was seen as you were one of us or you’re just a Regular A.
Verse 14 above reminds me of that. Many signed up for the draft but only those whose number came up were chosen. It didn’t have anything to do with intentions, your number was up and you became one of us. Called or chosen, self-will or God’s will?
How you came to serve might not matter to those that died but if God chooses you it does matter.
“But I served you Lord?”
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.