The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous. – Matthew 13:49
A poll two years ago by Pew Research found that the majority of adults in America say they believe in heaven and hell, with more believing in the former than the latter. Some years earlier, another poll by U.S. News & World Report asked who Americans believed were going to heaven. Mother Teresa got the highest vote, with Oprah Winfrey coming in second. At the bottom of the list that year was O.J. Simpson.
The poll respondents evidently thought that the good works done by those higher on the list would gain them entrance to heaven. You could be the best person in the world but it will not prepare you to meet Jesus. The apostle Paul reminds you, “None is righteous; no, not one” (Romans 3:10) and “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, God, in His love and mercy for the whole world, “gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Faith in God through Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. It is not by any works of righteousness that you have done, but because of His mercy (Titus 3:5). The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, “but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Today’s verse is from the parable of the net, and Jesus said that many fish will be caught, but not all will be accepted. If you have heard the call of Christ but have not yet received Him into your life, what better time than this Christmas season? Many in government need to find eternal life today as well—intercede that their hearts would be softened to know the only One who saves.
Today’s Verse: Matthew 13:49
So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Romans 3:21-28
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
