Split
Have you ever had this experience? You're minding your own business, maybe playing a video game, listening to music, reading a book, or even taking a nap, when suddenly, a parent pokes their head in and asks for help with some project. For me, it was always my dad needing help outside in the humid East Texas heat mowing the yard or building a fence. At the time, it drove me crazy. But eventually, I realized those hot afternoons were actually the best way for us to connect. We built more than fences—we built a relationship.
Faith in Jesus works the same way.
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory…He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 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. 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. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “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? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “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!’ -Matthew 25: 31 - 40
Jesus taught this to His disciples, who’ve passed it on to us. It’s not a lesson about avoiding hell by going to heaven. I repeat: this lesson is not about what happens when we die; It’s about what God’s people do as born-again citizens of His Kingdom. Jesus recognizes His people by what He sees them doing.
When Jesus returns, He will split all people along one dividing line. This line isn’t about your nationality, family heritage, talents, or how you spend your Sunday mornings.
It’s about how you live out your identity as a citizen of God’s Kingdom. Jesus can see who His followers are because they are inclined to act like He does.
Paul told the Ephesians, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” This is not work we are guilted into or required to participate in to escape a terrible fate in a lake of fire. These good works are how we develop a closer walk with Jesus, like Adam and Eve enjoyed time with God in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden. By setting aside our self-interests, we get to spend time working with Jesus on His projects, learning more about what He’s passionate about, what grieves Him, and what He is doing to remake the world beautiful and whole, as He originally designed it.
The line between God’s Kingdom and outsiders is marked by how God’s people partner with Him—caring about what Jesus cares about and doing what He calls them to. He says it looks like supplying the thirsty with water and giving clothing to the naked. In studying the Bible, we can imagine the other projects Jesus is involved in and jump in to be a part of it.
He ends this lesson by encouraging His disciples saying, “the righteous will go into eternal life,” and it’s here that we get to continue the relationship with Jesus, from the moment we committed to following Him and on into forever.
Now is the time to embrace a lifestyle that reflects King Jesus. Where have you seen Him at work? How can you get involved with what He’s doing in the world around you?