Friday, November 13, 2009
Matthew 25:41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
THE DESTINATION OF THE GUILTY
Many times one going through a trial before a judge knows what his punishment will be if he is found guilty. The same is true in the courtroom on the Last Day. The Lord is clear that it is nothing less than everlasting fire.
Is this something that God desires? It certainly is not His will that any should perish. Note well that unlike the inheritance of believers which was "prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (see Matthew 25:34), the punishment for unbelievers was "prepared for the devil and his angels."
The Lord is a just God. Those who deny and reject Him in time will be rejected for eternity. They will be imprisoned in hell with the ringleader of the rebellion, Satan himself. There will be no escape and no parole.
In the time that remains we are moved in love to reach out to those who are on the road to this destination. There are many who are unaware or uncaring about the sentence of the guilty. There are also those who do not consider themselves to be guilty. There is a solution for all in Christ. The Judge is able to change a person's guilty status with His shed blood.
