Samson, I don't have an intelligent answer.
Luk 15:11 Now He said, "A certain man had two sons."
Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to the father, 'Father, give me the part of the estate accruing to me.' Now he apportioned to them the livelihood."
Luk 15:13 And, after not many days, gathering all together, the younger son travels into a far country and there dissipates his estate, living profligately."
Luk 15:14 Now, he spending all, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he begins to be in want."
Luk 15:15 And, going, he was joined to one of the citizens of that country, and he sends him into his fields to graze hogs."
Luk 15:16 And he yearned to be satisfied with the little carob pods which the hogs ate, and no one gave to him."
Luk 15:17 Now, coming to himself, he averred, 'How many of my father's hired men are being cloyed with bread, yet I am perishing here of famine!"
Luk 15:18 Rising, I will go to my father and declare to him, "Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight."
Luk 15:19 No longer am I worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired men."'"
Luk 15:20 And rising, he came to his father. "Now, at his being still far away, his father perceived him and has compassion, and running, falls on his neck and fondly kisses him."
Luk 15:21 Now the son said to him, 'Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight. No longer am I worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired men.'"
Luk 15:22 Yet the father said to his slaves, 'Quick! Bring forth the first robe, and put it on him, and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet."
Luk 15:23 And bring the grain-fed calf, sacrifice it, and, eating, we may make merry,
Luk 15:24 for this my son was dead and revives; he was lost and was found.' And they begin to make merry.
Luk 15:25 Now his elder son was in the field, and, coming, as he nears the house, he hears music and choral dancing."
Luk 15:26 And, calling one of the boys to him, he inquired to ascertain whatever this may be."
Luk 15:27 Now he said to him that 'Your brother is arriving, and your father sacrifices the grain-fed calf, seeing that he got him back sound.'"
Luk 15:28 Now he is indignant and would not enter. Yet his father, coming out, entreated him."
Luk 15:29 Now he, answering, said to his father, 'Lo! so many years am I slaving for you, and I never passed by your precept, and you never give me a kid that I may make merry with my friends."
Luk 15:30 Yet when this son of yours came, who is devouring your livelihood with prostitutes, you sacrifice for him the grain-fed calf!'"
Luk 15:31 Now he said to him, 'Child, you are always with me, and all mine is yours."
Luk 15:32 Yet we must be merry and rejoice, seeing that this your brother was dead and revives, and was lost and was found.'"
That's me, the second son.
Mat 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
Mat 20:2 After agreeing with the workers for one denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing in the marketplace without work.
Mat 20:4 He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard, too, and I will pay you whatever is right.'
Mat 20:5 So off they went. He went out again about noon and about three o'clock and did the same thing.
Mat 20:6 About five o'clock he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day long without work?'
Mat 20:7 They told him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard as well.'
Mat 20:8 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
Mat 20:9 Those who were hired at five o'clock came, and each received a denarius.
Mat 20:10 When the first came, they thought they would receive more, but each received a denarius as well.
Mat 20:11 When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner,
Mat 20:12 saying, 'These last fellows worked only one hour, yet you have made them equal to us who have endured the burden of the day and the scorching heat!'
Mat 20:13 But he said to one of them, 'Friend, I'm not treating you unfairly. You did agree with me for a denarius, didn't you?
Mat 20:14 Take what is yours and go. I want to give this last man as much as I gave you.
Mat 20:15 I am allowed to do what I want with my own money, am I not? Or is your eye evil because I am good?'
Mat 20:16 In the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last. For many are called, but few are chosen."
That's me...one of the workers hired at five o'clock.
If we got the 'hereafter' we grew up believing in, I would squeak past God into Heaven on the power of a 15-second prayer, a few acts of righteousness, and a promise of eternal security. In the course of an evening, I traded 'heaven' for the Lake of Fire, and I couldn't be happier with the trade.
I wasn't looking for the truth. I wasn't looking for anything more than a few minutes of diversion mocking the nutcase. I wasn't looking for a teacher. Heck, my ears weren't even itching. I was found like Peter at his nets. I was knocked off my horse like Paul on the road to Damascus. I have no explaining to do to anybody. I didn't ask for this, I never expected it, and it's all of God. I pray I can continue in the way I began.