THE
GREAT SEPARATION
Matthew 24:40-44
In that great day, when Christ comes again,
there will be a great separation (vv. 40-41). In the church, the factory,
the field, and the family the children of God and the children of the devil are
side by side. But it shall not always be so. When Christ comes again, there
shall be a great separation made. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
these two groups shall be forever separated. In that great and terrible day,
the divisions and separation of the godly from the ungodly will be decisive,
immediate, and everlasting. There will be no time for repentance. As we are in
that day, so we shall be forever! Believers shall be caught up to heaven,
glory, honor, and eternal life. Unbelievers shall be snatched away and cast
into hell, damnation, and eternal destruction and death. Let us make our
calling and election sure, both by faith and by works of righteousness, which
are the inevitable fruit of true faith. “Blessed and happy are they who are of
one heart in following Christ! Their union alone shall never be broken: it
shall last for ever more. Who can imagine the happiness of those who are taken,
when the Lord returns? Who can imagine the misery of those who are left behind?
May we think on these things, and consider our ways!” (J.C. Ryle)
It is our responsibility to be
always watchful, ready for and anticipating the Lord’s coming (vv. 42-44). This is a
point which our Master frequently presses upon us. He seldom mentions his
second coming, without urging us to be watchful. He knows the slothfulness of
our nature. He knows how quickly we forget the most solemn things. He knows how
worldly minded we are by nature. He knows how constantly satan seeks to destroy
us and with what cunning devices. Therefore he arms us with heart-searching
exhortations to be awake and alert, lest we be found at last among the damned
(I Thess. 5:6; Rev. 3:11). We will be wise, like the spouse in the Song of
Solomon (7:12), to rise up early, shake off all carnal security, determine not
to be slothful and sluggish, and stand watchful over our souls, that we may be
prepared at any moment to meet our Lord and Master. We do not know, we cannot
even guess, in what watch of the earth’s long night Christ will come. But we do
know that he may come at any moment. Therefore we ought to be as watchful as if
we knew that Christ would come today. “Oh, to be ready for his appearing,
watching and waiting for him as servants whose Lord has been long away from
them, and who may return at any hour! This will not make us neglect our daily
calling; on the contrary, we shall be all the more diligent in attending to our
earthly duties because our hearts are at rest about our heavenly treasures.” (C.H. Spurgeon)
Are you ready? Are you ready now to meet
God in judgment? What an awesome thought that is! Yet, it is a thought that I
pray will never cease to rouse our hearts. Soon we must meet God in judgment.
Are we ready? There is only one way to that we can indeed be ready. We must be
in Christ, united to him by faith, washed in his blood, robed in his
righteousness (I Cor. 1:30).
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #646
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net