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).

Don Fortner