Saints and Sinners
Saints and sinners shall be parted right and left, are you ready for that day to come?These words are more than the words of a song (There is a great day coming). Folks, there are some realities given to us in the book of books, that Jesus is coming again is one of those realities. On that day it will be a time of parting, those on the right hand of Jesus, and those on the left hand of Jesus.
However, before we get into that scene, let us establish without any doubt that Jesus is coming again. Maybe you are thinking “Jay, we know that”. I am confident that most of us do. If you are of that number this will be a reinforcement, HE IS COMING! We need to be ready and able to show that is the case. Besides that, I think it does us all some good to reflect on that day, for it will be a day unlike any other.
As stated, we will prove that Jesus is coming again, but we cannot, nor can anyone else, give you any clue as to when that day will be. Jesus himself, in the final week of his physical life stated that information is not given. You can speculate all you want to, but no one knows the “when”.
“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” (Mark 13:32-33).
We are given this; it will be a time unexpected. But first let’s address the coming of our Lord. Jesus told us in plain language he was coming again.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).
The apostle Paul told us by way of encouragement in I Thessalonians 4:13-18, written to new Christians who had a misconception.The background to the book of I Thessalonians is found in Acts 17. The apostle Paul and the missionaries that accompanied him established a congregation in Thessalonica, but because of persecution, Paul was forced to leave before these new Christians could be fully grounded (Acts 17:5-10). Paul worried about their spiritual well-being, sent Timothy back to Thessalonica shortly after their departure (I Thessalonians 2:17; 3:1-2). When Timothy returned (I Thessalonians 3:6), he relayed their fear, namely, that if they died before Jesus returned they would miss out on heaven. Paul tells them that is not so!
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we everbe with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
It will be loud, it will be sudden
The account does not end with I Thessalonians 4:13-18, the subject continues into chapter five. When Jesus comes again it will be unexpected.
“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (I Thessalonians 5:1-3).
Beloved, it will be unexpected even among those who serve our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42). “The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware”(Matthew 24:50).
The parable of the ten virgins shows the husband was longer then anticipated; Christians are married to Christ, as you know (Romans 7:4; II Corinthians 11:2). Five of those virgins became careless, caught up in other things, than all of a sudden there he was…. and there was no time left to them. IT WAS JUDGMENT DAY.
Jesus Christ himself will be the judge (John 5:22; Acts 17:30-31), and every one will be there.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10).
On that day, a day unlike any other, there will be a separation. The saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left. Families will be parted, and we will be told why. Those on the right hand will hear;
“Well done, thy good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:21; 23).
Those who failed or refused to have him reign over them (Luke 19:17), will hear;
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).
On that day, the day of parting, there will be nothing we can do, nothing we can say.
But today, we can do something, we can be on the right hand, we can be on the saint’s side, by obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- You must hear the word of God (Romans 10:17).
- You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24).
- You must genuinely repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30).
- You must confess Christ before men (Romans 10:10).
- You must be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 22:16).
If you are like the five virgins who became careless, we can refocus and get back where we need to be, ready for our Lord’s return.
But make no mistake, on that day the saints and the sinners will be parted, right and left. Are you ready for that day to come?