How can we prepare for the judgment described in Matthew 25:32? The Scene of Judgment “ ‘All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats’ ” (Matthew 25:32). Nothing is hidden, no one is exempt. Preparation is urgent and personal. Begin With the Right Relationship • “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). • “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9-10). • Saving faith unites you to the Shepherd; without it, every further step is futile. Let Saving Faith Produce Visible Fruit • “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). • “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). • Genuine trust in Christ inevitably overflows in acts of mercy, especially toward “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Practice Compassionate Obedience Daily Consider these everyday arenas where sheep-like love shows: – Home: patient service to family (1 Timothy 5:8). – Church: active participation, bearing others’ burdens (Galatians 6:2). – Community: generosity to the poor, lonely, imprisoned (Proverbs 19:17; Hebrews 13:3). Pursue Holiness From the Heart • “Make every effort to be found at peace, spotless and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14). • Reject habitual sin; cultivate purity in thought, word, and deed (1 Peter 1:15-16). • Depend on the Spirit’s power, not mere willpower (Galatians 5:16). Stay Watchful and Persevere • “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35). • Endurance proves reality of faith (Hebrews 3:14). • Regular self-examination keeps you alert: “Test yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Invest in Eternity Through Stewardship • Time: seek first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33). • Talents: employ gifts for others’ good (1 Peter 4:10). • Treasures: lay up riches in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Wise stewardship signals loyalty to the coming King (Matthew 25:14-30). Rest in Promised Assurance • “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). • “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life” (John 10:27-28). Confidence grows as obedience aligns with these promises. Summary Checklist for Readiness ✓ Trust Christ alone for salvation. ✓ Demonstrate faith through compassionate deeds. ✓ Walk in daily holiness by the Spirit. ✓ Maintain vigilant perseverance. ✓ Steward resources for kingdom purposes. Those who live this way will stand among the sheep when “the King will say…‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 25:34). |
    |