Saturday, November 14, 2015
Matthew 25:31-34 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
THE LAST JUDGMENT ANNOUNCED IN ADVANCE-- BY THE JUDGE
Christ will be the final Judge of all people. Here He Himself describes that future, ultimate judgment with respect to Christ-believers of every age.
FINAL DIVISION
Sheep and goats traveled together, but were separated at the pasture or fold. That separation previews that of the Judge of all on the Last Day. Picture the shepherd facing the flock with long staff in His hand. As the animals approach he taps them either on the right or the left side of the head and they turn aside -- either to the right or the left. On the Last Day those on the King's right hear the declaration of righteousness, the Gospel declaration in which they put their trust in this life. Those on the left hear the result of their rejection of the Savior during their lives. Their unrighteousness remains upon them and will continue to separate them from the great Good Shepherd. With this separation the judgment is rendered and destiny settled for all eternity. The Judge then renders His sentence and makes plain the justice of His judgment.
FINAL DESTINATION
The King's words to those on His right hand echo the word with which our Savior-Shepherd called us to Himself and invited us to follow Him. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Now our Shepherd invites us to draw closer than ever -- and forever. We are near Him now in the fellowship of faith and love. We will finally be called to draw closer than we can now imagine. The heart of heaven's eternal blessedness will be an indescribable closeness with the Lord who loved us and gave Himself for us. Believing hearts can confidently look forward to this because it is an inheritance. It is the Father's gift at the Son's expense, designed and planned from eternity, set aside and kept in readiness already now for all who are presently being kept in Christ by the power of the Gospel.
