Study Desk

When the boss shuts the gate, it will be too late. You will stand outside and beg and plead, but the boss will say, 'I will not. You're not one of my cowboys.'

"Then you'll say, 'But I went to one of your clinics and even ate with your cowboys.'

"And he will say, 'Get away from me. I offered you a place a long time ago, and you refused. The gate has been open all this time for anyone who wanted to come in, but now it's too late. Get away from here and get away from me.'

When you finally realize the ranch you will spend eternity on, you will be in such severe pain that you will cry out and gnash your teeth as you suffer endlessly. You'll look across the fence and see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all of the old cowboys who rode for God. They'll be happy on God's outfit, but you'll never step foot on it.

But understand this, the cowboys who showed up last will be the first to see God and the ones who came in first will be riding drag."

"Jerusalem, old Jerusalem. She is the city that kills God's cowboys and his messengers. I've wanted to put her calves in one pen and protect them, but you are not willing.

But nobody said a word.

A wannabe who tries to pass himself off as a top hand will be humiliated, but the top hand who doesn't mind sitting outside will be given a place of honor."

But they all had an excuse as to why they couldn't come. One church guy said, 'I just bought some land and need to go check it out. Please offer my apologies.'

"The cowboy went out and did like the boss told him. He came back and said, 'I did what you said, but we've still got food left.'

"But don't say you will ride for me until you've tallied the toll it will take on you. I mean, you're not going to buy a bunch of cattle that you don't have grass for.

"A salty cowboy is one who isn't afraid to go after rank cattle. But if he loses his salt and becomes lazy and only thinks about himself, then he is no longer good for the ranch.

I'm not worthy to be called your son, but would you hire me on as a worker?'

"So the boy headed for home, and while he was still a long way off, his dad spotted him walking up the road. His dad was nothing but relieved and happy at the sight of his boy coming back. He bolted out of the house and ran toward his son. The dad wrapped him in his arms and kissed him on his cheek.

"But the dad hollered to the cowboys who were working near the barn, 'Hey! Someone grab my best coat out of the house and put it on my son. Get a ring for his finger and boots for his feet.

We are going to celebrate the return of my son to the ranch. He was once dead to us, but now he has returned to life! He was lost, but now he has been found!' Everyone started getting ready for the celebration to begin.

"The older brother was angrier than a mad momma cow. He refused to join the celebration. The father came out to talk him into coming in, but he said,

But let this whelp disrespect you, take all your money and spend it on whores, and you celebrate his return by killing and eating the grain-fed calf—that I've been feeding!'

But this day is a cause for celebration. Your brother was dead in his sins, and now he has come back to life! He was lost, but he has been found.'"

"After all of this, the rancher still fired the bean counter, but he admired the way he collected the debts and set himself up for the future.