The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)
This parable teaches a very important lesson about how even people who choose to go to God late in their life will still go to heaven. Looking into it deeper we can see a couple other points it brings out. v1, "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard." Jesus points out that God goes around looking for you. We, being human and sinful in nature, don't initially seek God. This is also stated in John 6:44. Think about when you first heard about Jesus. God sent someone to talk to you. Whether you were raised a Christian or became one late in your life someone was sent to you. We are just "standing idle(v3)" in this world waiting for the truth to find us. It can sometimes be easy to feel proud about being saved. As if you have something to be proud of. One, Jesus himself died on the cross. Two, He seeked you out. There is nothing to be proud of. Instead, you should be very, very thankful.
Also in v1 he mentions that He hires you. Becoming apart of God's church is more than just getting a ticket to heaven. You make an agreement with Him. (Matthew 9:37,38, Luke 10:2,3) These scriptures call us laborers. There are many people out there that need God. We are commanded to go out there and "harvest" them. Matthew 28:19 commands us to go and make disciples. You are not just simply chosen to go to heaven, but chosen to be a worker. God hires you to do a job. And your job is to preach the Word of God to the world.
The main moral of this parable is the fact that even people on their death bed can turn to God and go to heaven. The laborers who bore the burden and the heat of the day are like people who think they have been pleasing God their whole life. Many people believe that murderers in prison or poeple facing death cannot be saved in their "final hour." As you can see, it doesn't matter how long you work for. Whether it be your whole life or just one hour (v12), you will recieve that denarius. Remember that God searches the minds and hearts of all men (Revelation 2:23), and that He knows if you truly believe in Him or not. You may think you have been pleasing God your whole life then at the end be judged. Also, someone may have lived an evil life until the end and give their heart to God. I am not saying you can just live however you want and then change at the last moment because He would see that in your heart. God loves all people and wishes them all to come to salvation.
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