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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Created for You

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1

The seas roll upon the sands and the mountains stand strong and mighty in the nighttime sky.  There is a hush over the forest as the winds settle into the valleys and a chill covers the land.  The canopy of stars expand the horizon beyond our visible interests and force our mind to seek answers that cannot be comprehended.  The depth of the darkness, the breadth of the vastness and the brightness of the stars overhead remind us just how small we are in this existence.  There are around 6.3 billion inhabitants of earth, and to the best of our knowledge, there is no life on any other celestial body.  The sheer acceptance of that fact alone boggles the mind of most. 

What random act of creation put all living creatures on this one globe, while there are numerous others globes out there?  Yes, earth has all of the necessities we require for life, but who decided what we require for life?  If it is all completely by chance, than why were our lungs formed in a way to only breathe oxygen and not any other gaseous substance?  For if it was a complete random event than we could have landed or evolved on any given planet and succumbed to the natural elements of that environment.

No, we were created in perfection by the single Creator of the Universe, designed to live in this paradise called earth.  When God breathed life into man, He and He alone formed the environment for our existence in an absolute perfect manner.  We breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, which is the natural fuel to sustain growth of foliage, trees and plants.  They absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen in a manner that sustains mankind globally.  This perfection is not random by design, but planned and architected to every microscopic detail.

Yes, the solar system is filled with other celestial bodies, but by His choice, He created this planet uniquely for us.  So do not take for granted the things before your eyes that represent His perfection in creation, but rather stand in awe and wonder and realize just how much He loves you to give all of this to you to enjoy.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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Jesus – Words from the Cross #2

 

Read it, Learn It, Live It, Share It

 “Today, you shall be with me in paradise” – Luke 23:43

Jesus’ first words from the cross were to ask His Father in heaven to forgive mankind.  His second words from the cross were directed toward an unrighteous, sinful man hanging on a cross next to him on Golgotha.  We don’t know what this man’s history was, other than he was a thief, or do we?

Remember there were two thieves hanging on crosses that day, one on each side of Jesus.  In Matthew 27:44, we see where they were both reviling Jesus and pouring out insults on Him.  Yet, one of these men comes to a point where the reality of death begins to set in and he realizes the redemption he needs to enter into heaven.  His words to Jesus, captured in Luke 23:42, appeal to Jesus as “Lord”.  Followed by his request – “remember me, when you come into your Kingdom.”  These are the words of someone who recognized the Son of God for who He was and recognized His purpose for coming to the world.  His repentance seems authentic as he rebukes the other thief hanging on the other cross that day, “Dost thou not fear God.”

Somewhere in his past, this repentant thief had heard of the Messiah, the Saving One.  Perhaps he had heard him speaking in Synagogue, or perhaps he was in the temple the week before when Jesus threw out the merchants.  Perhaps, he was at the city gate singing “Hosanna, hosanna – blessed is the King, who comes in the name of the Lord.” the previous weekend.  Perhaps, he was in the fortress watching them brutally beat and scourge this man, wondering why they hadn’t beaten himself that same way.  There was definitely something in his past that made a connection with Jesus, the Messiah.

Each of us have a past that is riddled with unrighteousness, sin and choices that have not been in line with God’s plan for our life.  Just like the thief on the cross though, we are given the opportunity for repentance, redemption and salvation from the only one who is worthy to give grace – Jesus Christ.  At the point of death, this thief knew who Jesus was and realized that his own eternal destiny was at the word of this man.  Jesus had forgiven the sins of others before taking up His cross.  The leper, the man with palsy lowered down through the roof, the woman with the constant flow and the woman at the well; just to name a few.  Here, in His final hour, His compassion for saving the lost souls of this world was once again demonstrated.

With His death and resurrection, His blood has become the atonement for our sins.  We are all given the opportunity, just like the thief on the cross, to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our soul in life and death.  His grace is sufficient for the redemption of our souls and the washing of our spirit.  It is only by His blood that we can be saved, not by works, material possessions or by might.  As we lead up to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, you should be thinking about your own walk with Jesus Christ in your life.  Is He your Lord, and will you be in paradise with Him one day?

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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