Certain occasions require us to be properly dressed. Of course clean, neat and in good taste are always wise considerations. But, sometimes, too casual just won’t do.
When my husband, Doug, and I were first married, I did most of the packing when we traveled. My husband is a meticulous, ordered person. He plans with spreadsheets. I am more random. I jot notes to myself on the backs of envelopes. There are some gaps in my organizational skills. So it is unclear to me why Doug initially left the packing to me. When we arrived at our destination we often discovered what I forgot to include. Most often, it was something of Doug’s. Usually, it was something relatively unimportant. If we were visiting family, and I forgot a tie or a belt, he could borrow one easily enough. If I forgot his toothbrush, a trip to a drug store solved the problem.
Once when we traveled to a wedding, I took extra care not to miss a tie, belt or dress shirt when I packed a suit in his bag. I was confident I had thought of everything. But when we reached our motel, we realized Doug didn’t have any dress shoes.
It didn’t matter that it stretched our traveling budget to purchase shoes for Doug. He couldn’t go to the wedding wearing his jogging shoes. So, we went shopping for shoes. Since then, Doug has preferred to do his own packing for trips.
In Matthew 22, Jesus tells the parable of the wedding banquet. In it, the man who is not wearing the proper clothes for a wedding is asked to leave. The parable illustrates the need to be properly dressed to reside in heaven. Everyone is invited. God wants a full house. He desires that no one miss the glories of heaven. Though everyone is invited, not everyone gets in. We must come on God’s terms. There will be no place in heaven for those who are clothed in a righteousness of their own making. We can’t earn our way there by covering ourselves with our own list of good deeds.
Righteous living gives evidence for our faith, but our behavior does not earn our salvation. The only way to live eternally with God the Father is to know Jesus. The only proper attire is the robe of righteousness that Jesus provides. Jesus, who lived a perfect, sinless life as a man on earth, died in our place, for our sin, so we could be forgiven. We are covered by His righteousness when we turn to Him in faith. Once we are covered by His righteousness, we are properly dressed.
When we accept the righteousness that Jesus provides instead of trying to get into heaven some other way, we have everything we need.
Several years after the incident of the forgotten shoes, we were on a business trip in another city. When we arrived at our motel, Doug again discovered he had no shoes to wear with his suit. Even a meticulous perfectionist can forget things. Two hours before we were supposed to meet some people for dinner, we were again shopping for shoes.
I am so relieved to know that once we get to heaven, we will never have to worry about being asked to leave because someone forgot to pack our shoes.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law . . .the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Romans 3:21-22 ESV
Do you know for sure you are properly dressed for heaven? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
© 2025 Phyllis L. Farringer
Image by Ingeborg Kråka from Pixabay
I believe God has assured me that I am. And I am very thankful.
Praise God. Thank you, Elizabeth.
Thanks for sharing, Phyllis. I’m thankful that the blood of Jesus covers all who accept Him – and God sees us clothed in Jesus’ righteousness. And I’m very grateful God is a “come as you are” God – and He loves and forgives us.
Amen! Thank you Joni.