If someone likes or is a fan of something, we would expect them to know and follow that person or interest. A person who likes classical music ought to be able to identify a symphony of Beethoven’s if they heard one, just as a young person who says they are a fan of some modern musician ought to be able to identify their music. Someone who is greatly interested in cars should be able to identify various makes and models. Someone who claims to be a cook should be able to make basic recipes. If these people can’t identify Beethoven, a Toyota, or make some chocolate chip cookies, they aren’t really what they claim to be. In like manner, if someone claims to be a follower of Jesus, but does not act like He would act, they are likely not a true believer. Let’s take a quick look at our Gospel reading for this week, and see where Jesus divides those whose actions mirror what He would do, from those whose actions don’t.
As our Scripture passage opens, Jesus described to His disciples the scene when He will return in glory, and the nations will be gathered before Him. At this time He will separate them into two groups (vs. 31-33). They are described as the sheep and the goats, mainly because often, with many breeds, these two can be mistaken for each other, particularly before they have been sheared. The two may sometimes look like each other, but they are not the same. Then Jesus continued on to describe the basis for the separation of the two groups.
To those who were placed on the right, Jesus commended them for feeding Him when He was hungry, giving Him drink when thirsty, taking Him in, clothing Him, and visiting Him when sick or in prison (vs. 34-36). These folks asked when they ever did these acts of love and charity to Jesus, and He told them that when they did it to others, they did it to Him (vs. 37-40). Then the Lord Jesus casts out those who are on His left, telling them that they never fed, clothed, or visited Him when He was in need. They, too, asked Jesus when did they ever refuse to help Him, and He repeats that when they refused to help others, they refused to help Him (vs. 41-46).
How we treat the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, and the prisoner reflects our relationship to Jesus. When was the last time we offered a stranger a smile, a prayer, a cool drink, or a helping hand? Acts of kindness done for His followers will be noted and rewarded. To bless one who belongs to God is to bless God. To harm one who belongs to God is to harm God. (vs. 40, 45). What we do for others demonstrates what we really think about Jesus’ words to us. We need to treat all the people that we encounter as if they are Jesus.
The good deeds that Jesus commended the one group for are the fruit, not the root of their salvation. The deeds are not the basis for their entrance into the Kingdom. Instead, it is the manifestation of God’s grace in their lives due to being saved. It is the evidence of the saving faith they have (James 2:14-26). We are not saved by works, but works show others we are saved.
Do our actions separate us from the unbelievers and pretenders? Sometimes a goat may be mistaken for a sheep, but a true shepherd knows the difference. The difference between true and false followers of Jesus is evident in this Scripture. The sheep were true followers because they did what Jesus would have done. It was as if the good deeds were done to Jesus, Himself. The goats, or false believers, failed Jesus in His hour of need.
What someone does with the Good News of Jesus has enormous consequences, because the punishment of those who reject Jesus is just as eternal as the reward for those who serve Him (vs. 46). Just as heaven is eternal, so is the punishment in hell. The unsaved are not given a second chance, nor are they annihilated.
Are we genuine followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, or are we just pretending? A real, genuine believer will follow in His footsteps. Jesus is always ahead of us, bidding us to follow Him as a soldier follows his Captain. Jesus is paving the way and clearing our path all throughout our life, so that in our last moments we will hear Him say, “Come, you blessed of My Father!”
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