TEXT: Matthew 25:31-46
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
— PRAYER —
Practical Duties for the Christian in this Present Evil Age, Part 5
So far, in this description of future events delivered to us by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, we have received a largely positive message. The Lord has described the good works of the righteous “sheep” toward others. The sheep have expressed their surprise at their Lord even taking note of this. The Lord tells them, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” He goes on to invite the righteous sheep into His Kingdom, saying, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
However, there are those at this judgment who did not act in the same manner as the righteous sheep. These are the unrighteous goats who were separated from the sheep at the beginning of the judgment. Jesus now addresses them saying “to them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” On the one hand we have a kingdom prepared for the righteous. On the other hand, we have everlasting fire prepared for the devil and the devil’s angels. Charles Spurgeon said, “[The goats] had joined the devil in refusing allegiance to the Lord; so it was but right that, imitating his rebellion, they should share his punishment.”
As the reason for them being sent to this everlasting fire, Jesus points out that the goats’ behavior was the opposite of that of the sheep. He says, “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.” As with the righteous, this behavior was simply a reflection of their inner spiritual condition. Jesus was not teaching salvation (or condemnation) by works. The goats did not do the right thing because they were not right with God on the inside. They were not saved so they did not live like saved people.
And that is a danger that many people fall into today. We think that if we act saved then we are saved. But it is actually the other way around. We must be saved before we act saved. And the only reason why the goats did not act saved is because they were not saved. Jesus simply used their evil actions as proof of their lack of salvation. Their inside life had never been transformed. Their outside life simply reflected the lack of concern for others that one who is truly saved should have. In light of the dire punishment of the goats, we ought to examine ourselves and see if we are truly in the faith — if our inside life has been transformed and if our outside life is reflecting that transformation.
Haldor Lillennas wrote:
Have you found redemption through the Son of God?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
Are you sheltered underneath the precious blood?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
You have long refused your blessed Lord to own;
Are you ready for the judgment day?
What will be your fate before the great white throne?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
How shall you escape the burden of your guilt?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
If you scorn the blood that for your sin was spilt,
Are you ready for the judgment day?
Will you trust the Savior to forgive your sin?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
He can save, no matter what your life has been;
Are you ready for the judgment day?
—–
Now, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, I urge you to trust in Him because He is coming again and you do not want to be left behind. Here is how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and the consequences of sin.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.” Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
BCNN1 WP 