40 Days of Easter  March 30, 2011

Written by: Michael Collins

Matthew 25:31-46
JUDGMENT IS COMING, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

I must admit I struggled with this passage as I read it over and over. I got to where I couldn?t see the forest for all of the trees in my way. I know who the King is, but who are the sheep, who are the goats, who are His brethren, which judgment is this, will the nations be judged as a whole, will the people of the nations be judged individually? As I studied all of the different versions of the Bible on my computer, my New Testament commentary, and all of the available resources the internet hold I learned that many people either disagree or just don?t know the answers to some of my questions above.

But there are several things that I do know. I do know Jesus spoke the words in the above scripture, and the scripture preceding this, to his disciples on the Mount of Olives. He was speaking to His believers about a coming judgment, and how they should act in expectation.

Well then, what should I do in light of the coming judgment? First and most important we should prepare for the coming judgments by accepting Jesus Christ as our savior and the Lord of our lives. In Romans 10:9-13 we are told the following:

If you declare with your mouth, ?Jesus is Lord,? and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ?Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.? For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile?the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ?Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.?


If I have accepted the Lord as my savior then what should I do? As one that would make Jesus Christ Lord of my life I know in Matthew 22:37-40 we are told Jesus answered and said, ? ?Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.? This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ?Love your neighbor as you love yourself.? All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands.?

Okay, as a believer, then how should I love the Lord my God? Jesus tells us in John 14:15, ?If ye love me, keep my commandments,? and in Luke 10:25-37 Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan and explains to ?who is my neighbor??


With that in mind the scripture above discussing the sheep and goats is one illustration of how Jesus wants us to live awaiting judgment. Jesus tells us that as ?sheep? in the flock of the Lord we should willingly love the Lord our God and our neighbors as we love ourselves. If we have a brother, sister and neighbor with a need we should try and meet that need in the name of our Lord to give him honor and glory. We should attempt to meet the needs of those who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, or in prison or any of the people who could not help themselves that may be called ?the least of these.? Jesus says as you serve them you serve Jesus himself. In Matthew 23:11-12 Jesus said ?But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.? We should serve our brothers, sisters and neighbors out of a true love for the Lord and not just for others to see as Jesus described when He rebuked the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:5 saying ?But all their works they do for to be seen of men.? As is described by Jesus in a parable in Matthew 25:14-30 we are to take the blessing and gifts that he has giving to us and use them to serve our Lord and our brothers, sisters and neighbors so that He will tell us ?Well done, good and faithful servant.?


Well then, does the scripture above discussing the sheep and goats tell us that to ?inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world? we are required to perform the described tasks or works? Remember, Jesus was speaking on the Mount of Olives to his disciples in response to their questions of when the temple would be destroyed or when Christ would return. Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 24:27 ?For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be,? and in Matthew 24:44 ?Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.? Jesus was telling them He would return suddenly and unexpectedly, so do not worry yourselves about when, just follow my commands and serve the Lord until that time comes. In Ephesians 2:8-9 we are told ?For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, lest any man should boast.? And in Romans 11:6 we are told ?But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.?

So I know Jesus shall return, and I know judgment will come, what should I do? I should make Him Lord of my life by accepting his precious gift of salvation, and then obediently serve Him as my Master loving Him by following his commands and loving others by humbling myself serving any and all of their needs with the gifts and blessings He has so graciously provided for me.

Dear Lord I pray thanks to you for loving me enough to send your Son as a sacrifice for my sins and defeating sin for all by rising from the grave. I pray You will remind me not to ponder on the mysteries of Your ways that You tell me I shall not know. I pray that you will continue to show me that I should obediently serve You by humbling myself to serve others. I pray that when the day of judgment comes You count me as one of Your sheep and You tell me ?Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.? I pray my ears will be open to Your commands. Give me the words to use to spread Your message to others and I pray I serve You in such a way that others see Christ in me. Lead, guide and direct me in all I do. In Jesus? name I pray, Amen.