Americans voted on Tuesday; two candidates emerged from our abbreviated political primary campaign season with their positions on the national ballot secured, come next November. What was on the minds of the electorate as they threw their weight behind their preferred contender?

Exit polls confirmed that, nationally, “the border” was the priority issue on the minds of millions. As the message resonated leading up to the election, “every state is now a border state.” A nation of immigrants now shares a deepening concern about illegal immigration, and the net effects that are already disrupting the stability of a nation founded on law and order as a cultural given.

Why do we even have borders? If you believe the Bible to be a foundational perspective of human existence and history, the origins of international existence are clear:

“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26).

God spread people across the globe; he established them as nations and staked-out their territories under the authority of the Creator himself.

What happens when those limit-lines are not respected as sovereign? When individuals act in defiance of borders, boundaries and societal codes, are they free to dismiss the restrictions that would otherwise inhibit their self-determination?

In the span of a couple of decades, language has shifted to accommodate lawlessness. Years ago, “illegal immigrants” was the earned designation for border crashers. Today, “newcomers” is the kinder and gentler moniker that redefines the gravity of the decisions that remove the power to be a sovereign nation and redefines border crashers as house guests.

The Kingdom of God is an extraordinary model from which standards of identity and order can be reflected. Jesus – the King of that Domain – likened His now-heavenly but soon-earthly Kingdom to a spectacular celebration that is increasingly imminent.

Listen as Jesus describes it:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

“But they paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:2-14)

Jesus is the King. In His Kingdom, He’s preparing to host a magnificent welcome celebration that will usher in Eternity. In the initial wave, His invitations went out to many who decided that they had no interest in his hospitality. In a final generous expression of largess, the King invites people who would have never been among the elite to come – on His terms – to be part of the party.

Among those who responded was a man who blew-off the criterion of the invitation, not following the protocols designed and enforced by the King. The confrontation was direct and decisive: no one writes their own ground rules to get into or be part of a controlled environment. “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” The King’s order: remove him, immediately.

Politics and elections aside, my primary concern for you is not about your voting plans. Are you on the guest list for the Ultimate After-Party? When the King’s banquet is served, will you be there wearing the right outfit – the righteousness of Jesus, offered to you at His expense – or will you be speechless when He asks you how you got past the attendant at the gate?

Bob Shank