The Bible says: ‘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”’ (vv. 32-34 NKJV).
But here’s what happens to those on the left hand: ‘He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me”’ (v. 41 NKJV). What determines His choice? How does He separate people? Is it based on the fact that one group was highly moral while the other was loose-living? Is it based on the fact that one group was doctrinally correct while the other went astray theologically? No. Jesus said the destiny of all present will be based on one thing: showing compassion to those in need. You object: ‘We are saved by faith alone!’
Yes. But as Martin Luther pointed out, ‘The faith that saves us is never alone!’ The Bible says that faith without works is dead (see James 2:26). Jesus said that this was the standard by which we’ll be evaluated and rewarded: ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me’ (Matthew 25:36 NKJV). Then He personalised it in these words: ‘Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’ (v. 40 NKJV). That means you must open your heart and respond to the needs around you.
Judges 4-6, John 5:31-47
No comments:
Post a Comment