All in a Day’s Work

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’” – Matthew 20:13-15

The dryness caused their lips to crack and pus ran from the scrapes and cuts on their arms and legs.  The window of mercy and forgiveness had come and gone and they were left with the full conviction for their crimes.  Their attempts at restitution or reconciliation had failed and the death sentence was rightfully administered.  Their bodies weakened as the effects of gravity pulled at their internal organs and caused the collapse of their lungs upon their heart making it near impossible to breathe.  As the life began to drain from their bodies, one of them looked up and despite his failures, weaknesses and unrighteousness asked the Son of God to “Remember me when you come into Your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42)  And so it was as Jesus confirmed the man’s salvation moments before the man’s body succumbed to life on this earth.

Christianity is not based on living a perfect life, or even a righteous life for that matter.  For being or becoming perfect is impossible based on original sin of mankind in the Garden of Eden.  Christianity is based on an acceptance and acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of mankind.  Are you jealous of those that have lived a life of crime and receive salvation with their dying breath?  The scriptures tell us clearly in Luke that it is indeed a reality and an acceptable condition for eternity with the Father.  Furthermore, it goes to show that salvation is not dependent upon the works of the individual but the single act of sincere acceptance of Jesus Christ.  Now, one can question all day long the sincerity of one’s salvation, but we aren’t authorized to make that call.  That is uniquely the role and responsibility of Jesus Christ alone.  Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”   Should we judge whether God can forgive a man and allow him to enter into eternal peace?  Far be it from me to take on that role.

Is it fair that some live a life of lust, debauchery, evil and disgust, and then give their life to Jesus moments before death or on death row?  My answer is yes, it is fair.  It’s very hard to accept, but none the less it’s completely fair.  If God sent His Son to die that ALL mankind might repent and receive salvation, than we should be celebrating when any child of God returns to the Father, regardless of when it is in their lifecycle.  Think of the Prodigal Son returning to his father after spending all of his money on wild living in pursuit of earthly pleasures.  The response of his father was one of loving grace and acceptance, as is our Father in heaven’s response when one of His children turn and come home. 

Jealousy, envy and claims of unfairness are truly nothing more than a representation of selfishness.  We want all the benefits we deserve and do not want others to receive benefits from their work.  In the above scripture Matthew 20:13-15, Christ shares a parable of the vineyard workers .  The owner of the vineyard early in the morning called men to work the fields and agrees to pay them a denarius.  At nine and again at noon and three o’clock, he does the same thing.  He does it again at 5 in the afternoon for all of the remaining workers.  At dark he calls them in and pays them all the same wage, a denarius.  Of course the men that had worked the entire day were angered for not getting more than those who came in at the end.  The vineyard owner has every right to grant the same benefit to each and every individual what he determines is justice, irrelevant of the others opinions on fairness.  It is his money, they agreed early on to do the work for that price, therefore removing any dispute about fairness.

The work that was accomplished by those that began earlier was exponentially greater than those that came in late in the day.  So it is with our Christian walk.  The earlier in life we make the decision and commitment to follow Jesus Christ the greater our work and our ability to improve His Kingdom.  Our reward is equal to every other person that has accepted Jesus Christ, but the fruit of our labor represents a greater blessing to our Father in Heaven, who receives all glory for our work. 

So, you see, salvation is available to all mankind, right up to their very last breath.  To some this is an excuse to party and live unrighteously right up to the end.  This selfishness for their own life may cost them salvation as they are not in control of their death, and indeed it might cost them salvation because they have intentionally denied Christ their entire life.  Only God can determine that.  The moral of the story is to accept Jesus Christ with a sincere, repentant heart and mind, then seek the opportunities to pursue him with your life.  In doing so, you have great opportunity to bring glory to God and help others come to a similar place in life.      

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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