The Separation of the Righteous from the Wicked
Let us consider the solemn and inescapable truth of the separation of the righteous from the wicked, a reality that Scripture presents with unwavering clarity.
1. The Final Harvest – The Tares and the Wheat (Matthew 13:30)
“Let both grow together until the harvest. And at harvest time I will say to the reapers, ‘Gather the tares first and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” (Matthew 13:30). In this parable, Jesus reveals that the righteous and the wicked will coexist until the appointed time of harvest, the final judgment. This truth reminds us that present appearances can be deceiving, but God’s justice will ultimately prevail.
2. The Angels Will Separate the Righteous from the Wicked (Matthew 13:49)
“So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth and separate the wicked from among the righteous.” (Matthew 13:49). The angels, as God’s messengers, will execute the divine decree, separating those who belong to God from those who do not. There will be no ambiguity, no room for doubt; the division will be clear and final.
3. Two Workers – One Will Be Taken, One Left (Matthew 24:40)
“Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.” (Matthew 24:40). This passage underscores the suddenness and finality of the separation. It will occur in the midst of ordinary life, catching many unprepared.
4. The Nations Will Be Separated Like Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:32)
“And all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” (Matthew 25:32). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows His own. He will discern those who have served Him from those who have rejected Him, and the separation will be precise and just.
5. The Final Destination: Eternal Life or Eternal Punishment (Matthew 25:46)
“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.” (Matthew 25:46). The consequences of this separation are eternal. There will be no second chances, no opportunity for repentance. Each person will receive the reward they have earned through their choices in this life.
6. A Great Unbridgeable Chasm (Luke 16:26)
“Besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who would pass from here to you cannot, and those who would pass from there cannot pass to us.” (Luke 16:26). The separation is irreversible. Once the judgment is rendered, there will be no crossing from one side to the other. This emphasizes the urgency of making the right choice now.
7. Two in a Bed – One Will Be Taken, One Left (Luke 17:34)
“I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.” (Luke 17:34). The coming of Christ and the separation will be immediate and personal. Even those who share the closest proximity in life may face different eternal destinies.
8. The New Jerusalem and Those Who Will Be Left Out (Revelation 22:15)
“Outside are the dogs, and those who practice magic arts, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” (Revelation 22:15). Only the redeemed, those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, will enter the New Jerusalem. Those who reject God’s grace will be excluded forever.
- The Impossibility of Self-Justification
- The Idolatry of the Heavenly Bodies
- 7 Idols of Idolatry and Their Consequences
Let us take these warnings to heart. Let us live in a manner that reflects our commitment to God, so that when the final separation comes, we may be found among the righteous. Let us seek God, and walk in his ways, and accept his son Jesus Christ, as our lord and savior. Amen.
