We’ve reached a weighty passage today about trying to live in the middle ground. We’ve been looking at Jesus’ final sermon on earth over the past 3 weeks. Today’s passage is the conclusion to this final sermon. Jesus’ sermon has been about eternity, heaven, and what we are supposed to do as we wait for Him to return. Jesus hits on one final important pie.…what happens when Jesus returns.  There are some extremely clear passages in the Bible about heaven and hell.  This is one of them.  And what we find is that there is no middle ground when it comes to eternity.  Why?  Jesus doesn’t exist in the middle ground.  Today’s passage is going to be on the heavier side and a little bit challenging.  Some of you came in hoping to sing some Christmas songs, hear about a new born baby, and then out to lunch.  Well, we are going through the entire book of Matthew this year and this is where we happened to land.  Merry Christmas!  As you turn to Matthew 25, I want to let you know we have two more times in the book of Matthew before we finish the entire book.  Next week and Christmas Eve will both be in Matthew.  Jesus starts off the conclusion of His sermon with His second coming.  Here’s what we see first when Jesus returns:  It’s going to be quite the sight when Jesus returns.

1) It’s going to be quite the sight when Jesus returns. (vs. 31-32a)  Let’s look at these first two verses:  31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence… “When Jesus comes in His glory…”  We know from other parts of the Bible that when Jesus returns, it’s not going to be a casual stroll along the beach.  Go back to Matthew 24:26-31. What does is say?  26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. 29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world[—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.  When Jesus comes back it’s going to be with great power and great glory extending to the ends of the earth.  It’s going to be quite the sight!

But there is also going to be an order to it. Jesus will be in complete control.  Last year, we look briefly at 1 Thessalonians and the hope we have in Jesus’ return.  Look at the order of events that take place in 1Thessalonians 4:15-18.  15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.  So, here’s the image:  Jesus comes back.  The believers who died will rise from their graves first.  Those who have been raised from the dead will join those who are alive.  Then, together, all will be “caught up” with Jesus.  Finally – and don’t miss this – we will all be together with Jesus forever!  I know for some of you, this whole idea of getting caught up in the clouds seems odd.  I get it. You all know I don’t like heights.  I don’t enjoy flying.  Let me give you some comfort.  In Scripture, we often see the use of clouds as a divine appearance.  The idea we get is that the believers, both dead and alive, will be brought together with Christ forever.  It’s not like we all become Superman all of this sudden.  Now, some of you just got really disappointed…I already know who in this church would be putting on their cape and getting ready to take off!  This time of year, you are expecting a sermon where we envision Jesus as meek and lowly, sleeping in a manger.  And we should not lose sight of the humility of Jesus, but when Jesus comes back, it will be anything but meek and lowly!  Jesus tells us that He may have entered into humanity in a manger, but He will take His rightful spot on the throne.  Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man in verse 31, but in verse 34, He calls Himself the King.  And what does it say in verse 32?  32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence…When Jesus comes back, He’s pulling everyone together in front of His throne.  When we read the word “nations” here, this isn’t talking about the individual nations as we know – like the nations we are watching play the World Cup.  It means people from all over the world.  Can you imagine the scene?  Jesus coming back with power and glory.  Bringing up believers from old and today.  Sitting on His throne.  And all the people gather around.  It’s going to be quite the sight when Jesus returns!  As marvelous as it will be, Jesus’ return is going to create two drastically different scenarios.  This is where the passage gets weighty.  It’s where we see there is no middle ground with Jesus.  Here’s what we see next: Heaven and hell are real places where real people go.

2) Heaven and hell are real places where real people go. (vs. 32b-34, 41)  Once all the nations are gathered, there is going to be a sorting process.  32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.  What’s interesting is the choice of animals here.  These animals would have connected with Jesus’ immediate audience.  These were common animals that would be herded together, but then at times, would need to be separated.  Jesus intentionally used these two animals.  Jesus isn’t saying that He will separate the elephants from tigers.  We all know elephants go to the right and tigers go to the left.  Jesus isn’t saying that He will separate the hamsters from the whales.  Goats and sheep are similar creatures.  Now, to my wife who grew up on a sheep farm, I just offended her but to almost everyone else in the room, if you were 100 yards away, you would have a hard time picking out a sheep from a goat.  There also seems that the sheep and goats recognize who Jesus is.  No one is running around confused about whose throne they are standing before.  They aren’t trying to look for Buddha.  They aren’t dumbfounded that God exists.  They know who Jesus is.  We have similar creatures in the same place but with different outcomes.  So, what’s the difference between the sheep and the goats?  There are two differences.  The first is where they spend eternity.  We see these two outcomes in verse 34 and 41.  34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.  Here’s truth that you don’t hear very often spoken in love.  You are either with Jesus or not with Jesus.  There is no middle ground with Jesus.  I’m not a fire and brimstone style preacher, but my theology is.  Where the Bible speaks, I’ll speak.  Heaven is a real place where real people go.  Hell is a real place where real people go.  But hear my heart, the reality that there are people who won’t spend eternity in heaven with God breaks my heart.  Here’s why it breaks my heart:  Heaven and hell are permanent and irreversible.  When Jesus returns and begins this final sorting, there’s no changing it.  

In 1831, at age 22, Charles Darwin set sail on a ship called the Beagle. He was the naturalist on board, responsible for collecting specimens of plants and animals.  Years later, in autobiography, wrote about the theological struggle on board.  He wanted the believe the Bible, but he just couldn’t.  “Disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate…”  Darwin knew what the Bible said—that the “plain language of the text” states clearly those who do not believe in Jesus are sent to hell, eternally punished. He chose not to believe, calling the doctrine of hell a “damnable doctrine.”  In his old age he reflects, writes about believing in God: “The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us; and I for one must be content to remain an Agnostic.”  Darwin ends his autobiography by talking about how he had lost joy in nature, that all of his work had made his mind a “grinding machine.” Happiness left him.  Darwin knew there was no middle ground with Jesus.  And he chose not to believe.  The most important decision you can make in this life is where you will spend eternity.  The most important decision you can make in this life is wanting to live for God now and forever.  The most important decision you can make in this life is making Jesus your Savior, Lord, and Treasure.  I mentioned there were two differences between the sheep and goats. The first difference is where they end up.  The second difference is how they got there.  Here’s the final part of the passage we see today: We can know now where will be for eternity.

3) We can know now where will be for eternity. (vs. 35-40)  How does Jesus describe the sheep?  Look at the description starting in verse 35.  35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’  These sheep are now called the “righteous ones” in verse 37.  And they will be confused by what Jesus was saying.  37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? “  Hey Jesus, I don’t remember you being hungry and thirsty? When did we bring you food?”  “Are you hungry now? Need us to make a quick burger run?”  38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? “  Hey Jesus, I think I would remember if you didn’t have clothes. When did that happen?”  39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’   “Hey Jesus, if you need us to start a prison ministry, we can. But when were you in prison?”  “Jesus, can you help out with this one? I don’t get it.”  And then Jesus explains it all in verse 40.  40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’  Jesus is saying the righteous are fully engaged in the mission of God.  And being fully engaged in the mission of God includes serving the underserved brothers and sisters in Christ.  It also means serving non-Christians, but that’s outside the scope of our text today.  When we fully engage in the mission of God by serving our brothers and sisters in need, then it is as if we are serving Jesus Himself.  Doing things for Jesus’ children is just like doing things for Him.  Quote: “The sign of genuine, saving faith is a passionate commitment to the people of God and the mission of God.” – JD Greear.  What that means is the result of our faith is fully engaging in the mission of God.  We can know where we stand by the testimony of our lives.  Quote: “Just to read the Bible, attend Church, and avoid ‘big’ sins—is this really the passionate, wholehearted life of discipleship Jesus was calling us to?” – Francis Chan.  Jesus is telling us that we can’t say we love Jesus with our mouths and not live it with our lives.  There is no middle ground with Jesus.  If Jesus doesn’t exist in the middle ground, we can’t exist in the middle ground.  

Our culture has a hard time with this -- helping.  First, we don’t want to admit we are struggling.  We are so consumed with appearances that we don’t want to be the ones that need help.  It’s okay not to be okay!  I’ve learned this in the past 1.5 years.  I’ve told all of you all from a high-level that I haven’t been 100% good.  I’ve told a few you in detailed form that I haven’t been good.  And there are some of you really close to me that don’t need me to tell you -- you just know I’m all screwed up…  Thank you for not saying, “Amen…”  It’s okay to ask for help because it gives the opportunity for a brother or sister in Christ to live out their faith.  Second, we are too overwhelmed to help.  I know there are seasons where we are too overwhelmed to help.  And that’s okay.  I’ve been there for over a year now.  But when you are okay, help others who aren’t okay.  Because when are doing it for the least of Jesus’ children, you are doing it for Him.  Let me close with a few questions for you to ponder…

1. Do you believe there is no middle ground with Jesus?
2. Are you hoping you can ride the fence all the way to heaven?

Today’s passage shows us that isn’t an option.  Knowing that path doesn’t exist, where do you want to be when Jesus comes back?  Do you want to be with the sheep or the goats?  Do you want to be on the right or the left?  My prayer is that everyone will join me receiving the eternal reward that is coming.  For those who know they will be with God forever in heaven, how can your heart be moved to action for those who need help?

Previous Page