The 11th Hour

Jesus told a parable regarding late workers into His Kingdom. He said the Landowner “went out early in the morning to hire laborers into His vineyard.” In Jesus’ day, the workday began at 6 am and ended at 6 pm. He hired workers at dawn (6 am), the third hour (9 am), the sixth hour (noon), the ninth hour (3 pm), and He even hired late comers at the 11^th hour (5 pm).

No one needs to wonder whether Christ will welcome them into salvation at the late hour of their lives, or the late hour of this Age of Grace. The thief on the cross trusted Christ with his dying breath, and many have come to Him on their deathbeds or late in life.

But the point of the parable is that those who come to Him for salvation, even at the last hour, have also come to serve in His vineyard and win other. The prophetic reality to this parable is sobering. Jesus “arose, early in the morning,” on April 5, 33 AD, and sent His disciples “into all the world to preach the Gospel.” If we divide a 12-hour workday, by 2000 years, we are in the last two minutes and two seconds of time, before the “workday” is over.

The news in our world lately is to urgently “prepare” for global emergencies. But it’s far better for the unbeliever to “prepare to meet your God,” and for the Believer to finish the work our glorious Vineyard Owner gave us to do. For Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every person according as their work shall be” (Rev. 22:12).

May we serve Him with all energies poured out while there is time. Nothing else matters.

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)