Moment of Meditation: Separated (Matthew 25:32-33)

Original Broadcast: June 2014

''Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left (Matthew 25:32-33).''

All the nations being gathered before Him, Jesus will separate the people. Sheep and goats are easily distinguished. Before Jesus, all people are easily distinguished as either a sheep or a goat. The sheep will be on the right. The goats on the left.

The right-hand side has always been seen as a high place of authority. Everyone wants to be the right-hand man or woman of their employer. They want to be seen as indispensable. And the sheep are truly indispensable. They have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. They receive God's blessings in their lives and in eternity.

The goats on the left are ornery. They may have called themselves Christian in their lives, but they refused to live as a Christian. They wanted to have everything on their own terms. But Jesus will not allow this. They are placed on the left, separated from God's holy ones, to mark them as being unholy in their lives and in eternity.

And there is no crossing over from the left to the right. On the Last Day, you will not be able to change over from a goat to a sheep. Just as you cannot make a goat into a sheep or vice versa. On the Last Day, everyone will be confirmed in the way they lived according to Christ.

Embrace Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and be His sheep. Then you will be placed on His right with His holy ones. Amen.