surprise!

We read one of Jesus's most famous parables today in the One Year Bible, in Matthew 20:1-28. And this parable makes it pretty clear that there will be some people in heaven that we might not feel like deserve being there.

Now, we should step back from that sentence and think about it a little more. Because the truth is, NO ONE in heaven (except one or two) deserves to be there. You and I certainly don't. We all deserve to go to hell. That's what John 3:17 and following mean. We were condemned already, and God saved us from that condemnation.

So that should prepare us for the truth of today's gospel. Jesus tells us that when (God willing), we get to heaven, we will be surprised who is there. Will it be just the atheist who lives down the block? Or will it be someone really notorious like Charles Manson? What if Hitler himself is in heaven? How would you feel about that?

This often brings up a question among Christians... if {insert name here} made it to heaven after doing {insert their evil activity}, then what is the point of being a Christian?? I should have just lived it up and had lots of sex and fun all my life and made it to heaven anyway!

Do you see why this is bad thinking? We don't live the Christian life just so we get a pass on hell and get to go to heaven. We live the Christian life, with all of its challenges and joys and sorrows because it is the best life possible. AND, because it makes our time in heaven that much better. If we invest our lives in other people, which is what "living the Christian life" means among other things, then when we get to heaven, it is that much richer and more wonderful because our treasures (other people) are there waiting for us.

If we don't live the Christian life (translation: live for yourself and your pleasures alone), then we will (possibly) still make it to heaven, but we won't have the treasures waiting for us. This sums up many of His parables, right? Live for others now, enjoy the party more later. :)

God, thanks for teaching us what living the Christian life is about.