Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Matthew 25:32-33 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.
THE VERDICT
In a normal courtroom situation in the United States, evidence is presented concerning the accused by the prosecution and the defense. After deliberation, the judge or jury will come to a conclusion about innocence or guilt and render a verdict.
The final Judgment is different according to Matthew 25. Jesus the heavenly Judge renders His verdict before one bit of evidence is heard. It is not that He is making arbitrary decisions. He knows well the hearts of men, and is in His omniscience knows those who are His and those who are not.
The division between sheep and goats is according to faith or lack of it. The sheep are the believers; the goats are the unbelievers. While we do not have the spiritual vision to determine whether or not a person truly has faith, the Lord knows. There's no fooling Him, and there's no fear of being misplaced or not. Jesus renders the perfect verdict.
The result is a permanent separation. While sheep and goats are mixed together on this earth, and we might be fooled as to who are believers and who are not, Jesus will clear things up on the Last Day with His verdict. Blessed are those who belong to the Shepherd!
