Scripture

“And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom.”

Observation

The disciples ask Jesus to explain the parable of the wheat and the weeds. He tells them that the seed is the people of the Kingdom and the weeds are the people who belong to satan.

Just as the weeds are sorted and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. Those who are servants of sin will be removed and thrown into the fiery furnace. But those who belong to Jesus will shine in the glory of the Father.

Application

Many people recoil from the idea that Jesus judges people. We like the Jesus who loves us, but we are not so keen on the Jesus who literally sends unrighteous people to hell.

Jesus taught more about the end time judgement than almost any other topic. He literally did not want anyone to miss heaven on the basis of ignorance.

The christian assurance is that we will go to heaven. Our future life is guaranteed by the promise of God.

Because God is righteous, He is determined to stamp out sin for eternity. Can we imagine heaven as a place where people fight, murder, and steal?

Sin must be conquered and unrepentant sinners must be separated and judged.

It is not loving to let cancer destroy a body when it could be removed by surgery and save a person’s life. God would not be loving if He allowed sin to continue into eternity.

Prayer

Thank you Father for your love and your righteousness. I confess my sin to you now and ask for your forgiveness in Jesus name. Amen.