Day 20: Eternity at Stake

20 Jan, 2021

The Daily Word: Wednesday, January 20th, 2021
Genesis 41:17-42:17
Matthew 13:24-46
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 4:1-6
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! – Matt. 13:41-43

What a diametrically opposed set of outcomes. At the end of time, Jesus will send out His angels to separate the “wheat” from the “tares:” the good from the bad, the righteous from the wicked! The wicked will be cast “into the furnace of fire” for eternal torment. There will be “wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Imagine the depth of that pain for just a moment: being caught in never-ending torture as a result of your sin until the end of time. I don’t want to go there, do you?

But others will “shine forth as the sun.” They will rejoice “in the kingdom of their Father!” So what’s the difference? What separates the wicked from the righteous? Jesus:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – Jn. 14:6

Your eternal future depends on whether or not you know Jesus. You don’t know what could happen before tomorrow. You could live to see another day, or this world could collapse and we meet God face to face! Is it worth not being sure that you are Heaven-bound for even one more moment? Won’t you receive Jesus and be secure in your salvation today?

Prayer:

Father, I receive Your Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior over my life. I have made some mistakes! But I know that when I receive Jesus, I receive His perfect record. My sin is removed! And I am free to live for You, with all my heart, for all eternity, in Jesus’ name.

© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.