A Father has two sons.  He asks the first to work in his vineyard and the son replies no but afterward repents.  The second says he will, but does not go.  Of the two sons only the first did the will of the Father and Jesus responds that publicans or tax collectors and harlots go into heaven before the Pharisee.

            To put this in modern terms it would go like this.  If you are quasi-religious person who hears the word of God and knows it, but does not put it into practice, you have a better chance of going to heaven by being a sexually immoral person who when he hears the salvation message repents.  Or  if you are a person who is hated by society for cheating people it is better for you than to sit in church on Sunday and not respond to God's call to forsake the world, deny self and take up your cross and follow Jesus.  The odds are more in favor of the outright sinner than for a quasi-religious person  This is not what most people expect or believe but that is what Jesus says is true.  Organized religion tells people its okay to have a lukewarm faith but Jesus says it is better to be cold or hot, the lukewarm I will spit you out.

            If you think that you can stay a selfish person or judgmental or a hypocrite or a person who keeps most of his wealth for himself by attending church on Sunday, paying the church her dues, and joining a religious organization, think again.  You have a better chance of going to heaven by being a whore or a cheat and repenting before you die than playing God for a fool and playing church on Sundays and staying the selfish stubborn person you have always been.  When Jesus says the first shall be last and the last shall be first, he is talking about the quasi-religious and the sinner.  He is talking about people who deny the need to be born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit who wish to stay the same inside but outwardly appear to be righteous.

            Our culture is a gambling culture.  We play the lottery, go to casinos, bet on races and sporting events.  If that is part of your culture, you are better off to stop going to church on Sunday and play the harlot because the odds are more in favor of the harlot than for you!  Don't play God for a fool.  He knows you and he knows what you need.  Repent and follow Christ and seek to enter his kingdom.  He wants you and he loves you and he is looking for true believers. Are you one of them?  I hope so. 

Amen