Last night around 8:30, I was tired and went to bed early. But the Lord woke me up at 10:30, and I thought, “Maybe He wants me to watch the end of the basketball game.” Sure enough, I turned it on just in time to see the Knicks pull off one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history. The crowd was going wild. The city was buzzing. People were celebrating like their whole lives had changed.
But as I watched the excitement, a thought hit me:
“How many lives are actually changed because the Knicks won a game?”
Maybe you feel happy for a few minutes. Maybe you talk about it the next day. But then life goes on. The Knicks will be back in training camp in a couple months, and the whole cycle starts again.
We get excited about things that don’t ultimately matter.
But there is something worth getting excited about — something eternal, something life‑changing, something that determines your destiny.
And Jesus tells us exactly what it is.
The Greatest Comeback in History
A former player of mine, Tyvon, called recently and said, “Pastor, you taught me something I still remember: Basketball isn’t that important. Jesus is important.”
He got the message.
Because the greatest comeback of all time wasn’t the Knicks.
It wasn’t any sports team.
It wasn’t any human achievement.
It was Jesus Christ.
Born in a manger.
Raised in a carpenter’s home.
Rejected by His own people.
Crucified.
Buried.
Left for dead.
And three days later — He rose again.
Now that is a comeback.
And that is something worth getting excited about.
The Wedding Feast: Jesus’ Parable From Matthew 22
Jesus often taught in parables — simple stories that reveal eternal truth. In Matthew 22, He tells one of the most sobering and important parables in all of Scripture.
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son…”
(Matthew 22:2)
The king sent out invitations, but the people refused to come. So he sent more servants:
“Everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”
(Matthew 22:4)
But again, they ignored him.
One went to his farm.
Another to his business.
Others mistreated and even killed the servants.
Jesus was describing the history of Israel — and the history of the world. God sends His invitation of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life… and people say:
“I’m too busy.”
“I’ve got more important things to do.”
“I don’t need God.”
“I’ll worry about eternity later.”
But the king in the parable responds with righteous judgment. Then he opens the invitation to everyone:
“Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.”
(Matthew 22:9)
Good people.
Bad people.
People with a past.
People with problems.
People who feel unworthy.
Everyone is invited.
And that includes you.
The Wedding Garment: The Most Important Detail
But then Jesus adds a detail many overlook:
“When the king came in… he saw a man who had no wedding garment.”
(Matthew 22:11)
The man had accepted the invitation — but he wasn’t dressed properly.
In Scripture, the wedding garment represents the righteousness of Christ.
Not your good works.
Not your achievements.
Not your trophies, titles, or accomplishments.
Only Jesus’ righteousness can cover your sin.
You don’t get into heaven because you’re “good enough.”
You don’t get in because you’re sincere.
You don’t get in because you tried hard.
You get in because Jesus gives you His righteousness — freely, fully, and forever.
Without that garment, Jesus says:
“Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness…”
(Matthew 22:13)
This is not a game.
This is not a metaphor.
This is eternity.
Are You Too Busy for God?
Jesus’ parable is a warning to every generation:
Don’t be the person who ignores the invitation.
Don’t be the person who says, “I’m too busy.”
Don’t be the person who thinks, “I’m good enough on my own.”
Because the King is coming.
The feast is prepared.
The invitation is in your hands.
And the only thing that matters — the only thing that will matter 100 years from now — is where you stand with Jesus Christ.
The Only Championship That Lasts Forever
I’ve coached players who became McDonald’s All‑Americans.
I’ve coached against players who are now NBA stars.
I’ve seen earthly glory come and go.
But none of it compares to this:
If you are on Jesus’ team, you are a champion forever.
Everything else fades.
Everything else ends.
Everything else is temporary.
But Jesus Christ — crucified, risen, reigning — offers eternal life to all who believe.
That is what really matters.
A Life in Basketball & Ministry
Before serving as pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church, young Stelzer played basketball at Davidson College, where he developed the discipline, teamwork, and leadership that would later shape both his ministry and coaching career.
After college, he served two years in sports ministry, four years as chaplain/teacher/coach at his high school alma mater, and 40 years as Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church, where he helped start Our Savior New American School. It was at this small Christian school in Centereach, NY, Stelzer became the longtime head basketball coach, where he built one of the most respected high‑school basketball programs in the nation. Under his leadership:
- OSNAS competed against top teams across the country
- Players from New York, across the U.S., and overseas came to play
- Many of his players earned Division I scholarships
- Multiple players went on to compete in the NCAA Finals
- Many went on to play professionally in the NBA, European leagues and other places around the world
But Pastor Stelzer’s greatest legacy wasn’t wins or trophies — it was the message he gave every player:
“Basketball isn’t that important. Jesus is important.”
That message continues to shape lives today.
