Moment of Meditation: Judge of the Living and the Dead (Matthew 25:31-32)

Original Broadcast: January 2009

Monthly Theme: Jesus' Exaltation (Apostles' Creed)

[Jesus said:] "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and the angels with Him,
He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.
All the nations will be gathered before Him,
and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."
(Matthew 25:31-32)

Judge of the Living and the Dead

Jesus is coming back. He has promised that through His disciples. As we confess in the Creed, He will come back to judge the living and the dead. What does that mean for us? Jesus has promised that, just as He came the first time into human history to purchase our salvation, He will come again in human history and there will be people and Christians still alive at that time. Jesus tells St. Peter in the last chapter of St. John's Gospel, "If it is My will that he [John] remain until I come, what is it to you? You follow Me!" (21:22)).

When Jesus returns on the Last Day, everyone will rise who has ever lived. Those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will inherit eternal life. Those who refused to believe or fought against Him will inherit eternal death as they suffer the eternal torments of Hell. Those are the judgments to be handed out.

This morning we draw another day closer to that Last Day. How will you be judged? Will you be one of the rewarded faithful or one of the condemned faithless? There is a sure-fire way to make sure you are among the rewarded faithful. Dig into His Word. Get your Bible off the shelf and really read it to see what it says about Jesus, about you and about life in this world. Then, go to church. Hear that same Word being proclaimed in its truth and purity. Let the fellowship of believers strengthen your faith and resolve as you continue in this life and prepare for the life to come. Amen.