J53 This is Your Life!! (1)

Matthew 20:11 "And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, "These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat."

Matthew 20:15: "Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" (2)

Chrysostom: "We should not busy ourselves too much about every detail in the parables." (3)

Reflection:

Sometimes I am distracted a little by the parables. My attention is on the obvious, as when watching a magic trick. I'm not watching the real action. The church fathers were the opposite -- they read all kinds of meanings into them, some that I can not see at all. Chrysostom cautioned about that.

When hearing the one about the laborers hired at different times and yet paid the same, I only consider how it is never too late to be saved. I accepted my salvation on November 23, 1973. My mother made her profession in 2004, the year she passed. Do I begrudge her salvation? Of course not! My wife and I prayed for 30 years that we would see it! Imagine the rejoicing in heaven at the softening of a petrified old heart! My regret is what she missed in her 82 years -- she never entered the vineyard -- never in the kingdom, 'til the very end. How terrible it would have been not to know Him in my life.

Not to be sanctified, protected and loved, nurtured by my Lord -- to remain in the outer darkness all my life, never knowing His peace and joy, always fearing, never having spirit-filled friends, not being blessed when most needful. "Better is one day in Your courts, than a thousand elsewhere." (4)

How I've proved Him, o'er and o'er (5) So many personal testimonies. How impoverished my life, without them.

What kind of Christian would be angry at a deathbed conversion? A wicked one, indeed.

My prayer: Father God, how sweet it was that you called me to yourself! My first 24 years were a wretched mess. I would not wish them on anyone, let alone begrudge my years in Your vineyard.

Was the sun scorching? Maybe a little. But would that I had been in the vineyard at the break of day!

I lingered in the marketplace way too long! Yes, it will be wonderful to come into your presence in a different way when you call me the next time. But there is some heaven on earth, too, in Your kingdom. Thank you Jesus! Thank you Spirit!

(1) An early reality show hosted by Ralph Edwards. Began on radio 1948, switching to TV in 1952. An unsuspecting personality was surprised on air with a retrospective of his or her life.

(2) Tyndale and King James include this phrase, as does the NAS and other translations.

(3) Chrysostom, "The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 64.3." In ACCoS, NT Vol 1b.

(4) Psalm 84:10

(5) Louisa M. Stead, "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus." (1882)

04/27/2020