Them Twain
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21
We are constantly seeing living examples of “them twain,” the two sons in our Saviour’s parable (Mt. 21:28-32). One said, “I will not.” But later went. The other said, “I go, Sir,” but never went. We have seen some stubborn cases surprise everybody and become obedient servants. Alas, we have seen some walk down church aisles and make a fine show of consecration who never show up in the vineyard. They hear the Word and anon with joy receive it but have no root in themselves and are soon offended.
I am not too elated over your youngster with a chestful of medals and a head full of memory verses. He may volunteer for foreign missions, give a ringing testimony—and never show up in the vineyard. Nor am I too depressed over your headstrong chap who stands adamant while others yield. Young Saul did that for a while.
I am not discrediting the medals, the memory verses and the testimony on the one hand, nor minimizing stubbornness on the other. But the final test of “them twain” in our Saviour’s story, as well as in the text for the day, is not saying “Lord, Lord,” but doing the Father’s will. ”