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I believe the parable of the workers will be of great help to you
Matthew 20:1-6
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Matthew 20:1-6
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
J
My great uncle was one of the most obnoxious people I'd ever known before cancer ate him up. About two weeks before he passed he gave his life to Christ and I can't even begin to tell you the work I saw the Holy Spirit do in him over those two weeks. It was one of the most amazing testimonies I have ever seen.
As to the issue of making the right choices when one is healthy, I offer the words of my stepdad, who was an incredible man, but did not follow Christ until he found himself in a wheelchair with only a couple of years to live:
"Everyone at church has been praying for God to heal me, but I know that if He healed my body, I would go right back to being the same jerk I was before."
Sometimes....terminal illnesses are what it takes to humble a person's heart before God. I'm thankful for whatever it takes.
As to the issue of making the right choices when one is healthy, I offer the words of my stepdad, who was an incredible man, but did not follow Christ until he found himself in a wheelchair with only a couple of years to live:
"Everyone at church has been praying for God to heal me, but I know that if He healed my body, I would go right back to being the same jerk I was before."
Sometimes....terminal illnesses are what it takes to humble a person's heart before God. I'm thankful for whatever it takes.
God is not like the insurance companies that wouldn't give you insurance if you had a preexisting condition.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Yes, of course they can. God does not hold a person to their stupidity that they had their whole life, when they sincerely desire to go to heaven, even if it is at the last moment, because it is not the will of the Father that any should perish.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Yes, of course they can. God does not hold a person to their stupidity that they had their whole life, when they sincerely desire to go to heaven, even if it is at the last moment, because it is not the will of the Father that any should perish.
Yes, the parable about the workers in the vineyard proves that people can be saved on their deathbeds. But I think there's different rewards in heaven. For example, the martyrs (those who died because of their faith) are right under the altar in Revelation ....CLOSEST to God? So does that mean that those who 'barely made it in' are further away? I have no idea, just a thought.
Still, I don't think many will argue that turning our lives over to Christ as early as possible (once we reach the age of accountability) makes our earthly and heavenly rewards greater....with the main reward being a close relationship with our Creator.
Still, I don't think many will argue that turning our lives over to Christ as early as possible (once we reach the age of accountability) makes our earthly and heavenly rewards greater....with the main reward being a close relationship with our Creator.
L
I remember when I first THOUGHT I got saved was way back in my 20's. Baptists scared the heck out of me and told me if I didn't say the prayer I would go to hell. I don't call that being saved............being scared into it.
In 2007, I realized that I could do nothing to change my life unless I gave him my life. Which I did. I truly believe then and only then was a actually saved. I understood at that point that I needed God. I wasn't thinking "hey ill make this decision so I don't go to hell". I really wanted to get to know the Lord.
I guess obviously God will know what is in their hearts at the time of their death.
In 2007, I realized that I could do nothing to change my life unless I gave him my life. Which I did. I truly believe then and only then was a actually saved. I understood at that point that I needed God. I wasn't thinking "hey ill make this decision so I don't go to hell". I really wanted to get to know the Lord.
I guess obviously God will know what is in their hearts at the time of their death.
My father was 82 when he almost died. My husband and I preached the gospel AGAIN to him. He prayed with us and he was a changed man! He witnessed to all the nurses, doctors and visitors in both hospitals he was in. He told my sister point blank she was going to hell without Jesus. (Sadly, she has not yet believed)
I read him the Bible daily and explained it to him and it was the highlight of his day. I sang him hymns and he remembered some of them. He remembered how to say the Lord's prayer and the 23rd Psalm from his childhood with me. We prayed together as he got sicker and sicker.
In the end, he called out to God to take him home. There is no doubt in anyone's mind he was saved. He died only 4 months after he believed in Christ. But I know he is with the Father now. I worried at first it was a death bed confession, but in the end, I realized it was, and he was saved!
I read him the Bible daily and explained it to him and it was the highlight of his day. I sang him hymns and he remembered some of them. He remembered how to say the Lord's prayer and the 23rd Psalm from his childhood with me. We prayed together as he got sicker and sicker.
In the end, he called out to God to take him home. There is no doubt in anyone's mind he was saved. He died only 4 months after he believed in Christ. But I know he is with the Father now. I worried at first it was a death bed confession, but in the end, I realized it was, and he was saved!
O
I knew on my mother's deathbed that she had been saved. My mother did not acknowledge Jesus until the end of her life. She was raised Catholic where he hung on the cross daily for her to see. She just didn't get that he was raised from the dead and no longer on the cross.
The night before my mother died. I was upset with her because she wouldn't let me go lay down for a couple hours. I had been up for several days with her up and down and I was exhausted. She would ask me turn air on then off. Many times. Then chair up then down. many times. I was so tired. I am an only child. I said mom I'm going to go lay down. She kept saying Help me Jesus help me. I came out of the room and I said mom. He's trying to help you submit to him already be still and quite listen to him mom let him lead you to where your going. I knew a couple hours later she had submitted to him. He took her home. Before she went on to cross Jordan. I told her she was a good girl for listening. (she was just like a child at this point) in the sweetest way that brings tears to my eyes now, she said, "thank thank you".
The night before my mother died. I was upset with her because she wouldn't let me go lay down for a couple hours. I had been up for several days with her up and down and I was exhausted. She would ask me turn air on then off. Many times. Then chair up then down. many times. I was so tired. I am an only child. I said mom I'm going to go lay down. She kept saying Help me Jesus help me. I came out of the room and I said mom. He's trying to help you submit to him already be still and quite listen to him mom let him lead you to where your going. I knew a couple hours later she had submitted to him. He took her home. Before she went on to cross Jordan. I told her she was a good girl for listening. (she was just like a child at this point) in the sweetest way that brings tears to my eyes now, she said, "thank thank you".
I love love LOVE the Matthew 20 parable. How generous is our God, and what a reminder that we who may well live the majority of our lives as Christians before we die have absolutely NOTHING to boast about.
Also thanks to God, who will judge rightly, who looks on the heart whereas man only looks on the outside, and who does all things to the good of those who truly do love him, whether for 50 years or just the last 5 minutes!
Also thanks to God, who will judge rightly, who looks on the heart whereas man only looks on the outside, and who does all things to the good of those who truly do love him, whether for 50 years or just the last 5 minutes!