This morning's readings from the MacArthur Daily Bible are Genesis 17 and 18, Psalm 5:8-12, Proverbs 2:10-22, and Matthew 7. (I'm going to stop putting that Amazon "Buy This!" link, because the book has a text link, and the prittified link is over there ----> in my right hand side bar, under "Resolution Reading")
Today and yesterday, Tabletalk has been discussing Matthew 25:31-46 and Romans 2:1-11 in the context of the final judgement. These two passages discuss the final fate of the unrighteous when Jesus sits in judgment at the Great White Throne at the end of time.
In Matthew, Jesus says:
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 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 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: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'
Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
And in Romans, the Apostle Paul writes,
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. [emph mine]
We must be very careful who we judge, and how we judge them. We must look into our own hearts and root out our sin first, and we must be gentle and humble when we point out sin in other people. Yet, we also must proclaim the coming judgment of God and how to escape it. Those who are perishing are, by sinning continually and without repentance, adding to their burden of punishment in eternity. We would be unloving and disobedient to our Lord if we neglected to warn people of Hell.
Nevertheless, a word from Galatians is in order:
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
We must not get so puffed up with our supposed righteousness that we become arrogant and look down on others. Don't forget: "There, but for the grace of God, go I!" It is not our strength or our righteousness that has saved us or that keeps us in a state of grace: it is God's strength, and God's alone. We are helpless, and we must cast all our cares on Him, and then walk in obedience using His power. And so we must walk and proclaim His Truth with humble hearts, even as we may speak firmly and with conviction.
Each day, we must cast ourselves on His mercy, and He will lift us up and sustain us.
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Let us wait on the LORD, let us follow where He leads us, and let us do the tasks and duties He sets before us each day. Just as the man without God can add to the burden of his punishment, so the Christian may add to the treasures of reward in Heaven by his faithful obedience to his Savior.
Now, just a "programming note:" I'm not sure I will post a Bible meditation tomorrow. I will be travelling down to Florida for a few days, and am not sure if I'll be able to have the time to post everyday (though I will try). I know I'll be able to toss up the odd comment on current events, or some silliness that friends have shown me - but these meditations take much more thought and consideration, and I want to do them properly or not at all. So if I miss the next couple of days, that's why.
Thanks for reading, and I hope this gave you some Scripture to meditate upon today!
