The Heavenly Dress Code Series

A. I like to play golf, but I make no claims of being a good golfer.

1. I get to play 3 or 4 rounds of golf a year.

2. One of the best parts about golfing is being out in such a well-manicured green space.

3. If you play early in the morning when the dew is still on the ground, then you get to watch the water spray up behind ball as it makes its way to the cup and leaves a line in the dew.

4. Another great thing about golf is taking a nap while you watch it on TV on a Sunday afternoon.

5. If you have ever wondered why the commentators speak in such hushed tones, it’s to keep from disturbing the nappers, not the golfers.

B. You might recall that one of the resources for this series is Max Lucado’s book “When Christ Comes” and in it, Max shares a personal story that vey well illustrates our lesson for the day.

1. Max was thrilled when he was invited to attend the Master’s Golf Tournament – not as a player, but as a spectator.

2. A ticket to the Master’s is very hard to come by, so he was thrilled.

3. The invitation came from a golf pro named Scott Simpson.

a. Each player in the contest is given a number of passes, and Scott offered two of his to Max and his wife.

b. So, off they went to Augusta National Country Club in Augusta Georgia, where the annual event takes place.

4. Because there is so much history in that contest and that place, Max was like a kid in a candy store; he was thrilled by everything around him and just couldn’t get enough.

a. But it wasn’t enough for him to see the course and walk the grounds, he wanted to see the clubhouse and be with the players.

b. So, Max headed for the clubhouse, but he wasn’t allowed to enter.

c. A guard stopped him at the entrance.

5. Max showed him his pass, but the guard shook his head “no.”

a. Max told him he was a friend of Scott Simpson, but that didn’t matter.

b. Max promised to send his eldest child through college, but he didn’t budge.

c. “Only caddies and players are allowed in there,” the guard explained.

d. Caddies at the Masters are required to wear white coveralls, and Max’s clothes were not even close.

6. Max left, figuring he’d never see the clubhouse.

a. He had made it all the way to the door of the clubhouse, but he had been denied entrance.

C. Many, many people fear the same will happen to them, not at Augusta, but at the door of heaven.

1. Do you fear being turned away at heaven’s door?

2. That’s a legitimate fear, don’t you think?

3. We’re talking about the most important moment of our lives.

4. This cartoon about Peter playing an April Fool’s joke on someone at the gates of heaven made me giggle.

a. Can you imagine getting to the front of the line and giving your name only to have Peter say, “Sorry, your name is not on the list. Then after your reaction, saying, “April Fools! Just kidding!”

5. To be turned away from seeing golf history is one thing, but to be refused admission into heaven is quite another.

D. That’s why some people don’t want to discuss eternal questions, because it makes them nervous.

1. They may be God-fearing and church-attending but they are still nervous.

2. Do we need to spend the rest of our lives wondering if we will be turned away at the door?

3. Is there a solution for this fear?

4. The good news is that: yes, there is a solution for this fear, and no, you don’t have to worry the rest of your life.

5. According to the Bible, it is possible to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life.

6. Listen to this truth written by the Apostle John in his first letter: I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 Jn 5:13)

E. So, how can any of us know for sure? The surprising answer is that it has to do with the clothing we wear.

1. Jesus explained the matter in the parable we listened to as our Scripture reading.

2. Jesus told the story of a king who planned a wedding party for his son.

3. Invitations were sent, but the people “refused to come” (Mt 22:3).

4. The king being a patient man, sent another invitation.

5. This time the servants of the king were mistreated and killed.