Last Minute

Congregational Question - Can a person who continues to sin and perpetuates evil ask forgiveness before dying and go to heaven just like a person who lives “right” throughout their entire life?

In Matthew 20 we hear the story of the laborers in the vineyard. This story was an affront to the up and coming religious leaders of the day, most of whom were well off and would be the ones doing the hiring in a situation like this. From the standpoint of the efficient land owner, the story makes no sense. Why would one pay someone who worked for one hour the same as someone who worked for 12 hours? From the standpoint of the laborers however, things look different. Laborers frequently made only enough in one day of work for one days food for themselves and their families. The needs of the laborers who worked 12 hours were the same as the needs of the laborers who worked one hour. In Jesus’ view of the kingdom, the question is not who deserves what, but rather who needs what.

We believe in a God of Grace. We believe that salvation is a gift from God given to us through the saving grace of Jesus. Luther also talked about us being simultaneously saints and sinners, capable of performing some of the most gracious acts of love and at the same time separated from God by our thoughts and actions. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us have put in a good 12 hour day in the kingdom. Our need however is to be with God, our need is salvation, our need is the gift of heaven. Whether we are 11 hour workers or 11 minute workers, our need for salvation is the same and is given to us as a gift. There is no higher heaven for those who have worked harder and there is no heaven slum for those who make last minute conversions. The only difference is that the 11 minute workers missed out on getting to work in the kingdom for the rest of the day. That only seems unfair if you consider working in the kingdom as drudgery you would rather not do. If that is the case, you have other issues to work on.