Jesus said, "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 go, sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first."

Jesus taught profound truths about the Kingdom of God in the form of little stories about ordinary people in everyday life. These stories, called parables, are the very words of Jesus.

First Son: The father goes to him and says, "Go work in my vineyard." The son says, "I ain't doing that. Forget it." Later, this son feels bad and says, "I had a bad attitude. My Dad needs help. He can't do all the work himself." So the son answers his father's call on his life, and goes to work in the vineyard.

Second Son: The father then called the second son and asked him to answer his call, to go and work in the father's vineyard. This son says, "O yes, father, I would be happy to help you." But later, this son got busy with other things, forgot his promise and did not answer the call of his father.

Jesus asks, "Which of these two did the will of his father?" Those listening to him said, "The first did the will of his father."

Jesus was speaking this parable to those who had heard the call of the heavenly Father, and did not do the Father's will.

Jesus was also speaking to those who had said "no" to the call of God on their lives, but later repented and answered the call.

The first son is like many of us, including me, who heard the call of God, and then walked away from it, sometimes for many years, and later answered the call.

In 1948, I spent two weeks at a summer assembly grounds in North Carolina, listening every day to a very young, energetic preacher named Billy Graham.

On the last day, he gave a call to those who felt God was calling them to fulltime Christian service. The white heat of God was burning my heart, which was pounding, and I knew I had to go down. No, I had to run down, and get that man to pray for me. I did and for many days after, I was floating and very high in the spirit. I was 12 then, but adolescence and then college pulled me away from the Lord.

For many years, I walked with the world, not with the Lord. My life was filled with heartache and trouble. I did hold on to one grace and that was the regular reading of the Bible. I read the Bible even when I was not walking with the Lord, and the Lord Jesus was putting his deposits in me, even though I walked in darkness.

At the age of 30, God put some people in my life who taught me and encouraged me to come back. This time, I heard the call of my heavenly Father. I regretted that I had not gone to work in his vineyard when he first called, but the Lord forgave my sins, cleaned me up and sent me to seminary.

One thing I learned, and that is the call of God is the same for all of us, and that is to do the Lord's divine will for our lives. This is no different for an ordained person than for a lay person.

Jesus said, ""I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5, NKJV.

As for those who answer the call of God, and then do not do the Lord's will, repent quickly, and return to the vineyard. Our heavenly Father is quick to forgive, and to take you back into his everlasting arms.

Blessings in Jesus,
Father Hammond

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