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Posted 3rd Oct 2007

Making Excuses - Part 2

David Weber
30th Sept 2007

“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I'll go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”

Beloved, an application of this for us today is that the "first" son here is a type those who have rejected doing the will of the Father, even have rejected Christ, and have gone the way of the world for a long season. I meet many of these in my travels. These are the drug addicts and the prostitutes and the homeless people in our cities, many of whom are now deeply repenting of their sinful lifestyles and are coming to the Father in a very big way! Many of these are now even laboring in the Father's vineyard! Yes, it is awesome to see how some of these are ministering to the needs of others out in our city streets! Sure, many of these have not wanted anything to do with Christ for most of their lives, and many of these are experiencing the ravages of their past sinful lifestyles, but I've got to tell you, in their brokenness, quite a few of these are becoming a great expression of God's love to others, and they are doing things and helping people in ways that most "Christians" will not! These are they who said "I will not go," but are going!

Then on the other hand there is the "second" son; a type of those who have said "Yes, Lord! I'll follow You anywhere ,and do anything for You!" Many of these have "served the Lord for a long time," but the truth be known, most of these are not really willing to do the will of the Father. Though these consider themselves to be "the Lord's elect," their refusal to lay down their lives in service for the autumn harvest reveals otherwise. These have personal agendas and lifestyles that they do not want interfered with. These have LIVES, for &%#$% sake, that they do not want to lose! These are they, friends, who even today, are making all sorts of excuses why it is impossible for them to live lives totally abandoned to the will and purposes of the Father. By their refusal to live as sacrifices for the benefit and blessing of others, these simply prove that their "Yes, Lord" of yesteryear was a matter of honoring God with their lips, but with hearts that were far from Him. These are they who said, "I will go," but are not going.

Now, as Jesus said in Matthew 21, just which of these two sons (groups) actually did the will of the Father? and just which one do you think is going to be rewarded for his obedience?

Ah, beloved, Jesus wasn't kidding when He said that the first will be last and the last will be first. I just marvel at what the Lord is doing in this day.

D