The scales.
I still remember the long entryway of my grandmother’s house and her neat and tidy arrangements of both the practical and the decorative. She liked decorating for many of the holidays but she was also a very practical woman. In that entryway she had a set-up for selling farm fresh eggs. In that practical part of the entryway she had an egg scale that would weigh eggs according to size and weight - either small, medium, large or extra large. I suppose that determined the price per dozen.
There are scales for weighing produce at the checkout counter. We step on a scales at the doctor’s office to show how well we’ve done with our diet. This weekend we are looking at another scale - the scales of eternal judgment. The Scale of Judgment is one of the stained glass windows at Mount Olive. God is the Eternal Judge and his judgments are based on sound and exact evaluation of our human character.
How will God judge us on that last day? What would this look like? In Matthew 24-25, Jesus opens up that final day and helps us to understand what that day will look like for us.
Jesus begins this description of judgment day and his final return by addressing a question from the disciples in Matthew 24:3 “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus starts answering their question with these timely insights (many of which are occurring in our world today):
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:4-14).
These verses were given to the disciples AND they were also meant for our insight. Jesus is alarming them and us to the real judgment that is coming at the end of time by showing some of the signs of that end time: wars, rumors of wars, nation against nation, Christians will be hated, many Christians will fall away, betrayals, false prophets, lawlessness will increase, and the love of many will grow cold. We are to carefully examine the world around us and see how closely each of those signs match. This indicates timing, these signs are to remind us to be aware, be ready for the coming of judgment.
Matthew 24 then shows us what Jesus’ coming will look like:
“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 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 a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30-31).
Jesus’ message pleads with us all to be looking at the world we live in, read the signs (acknowledge them) and be ready for Him to return at any time. Can we see the signs of the times? Can we see how Jesus is calling us to awareness? We are NOT to predict a time or a day! Jesus is emphatic in his directive. But He is also emphatic and pleading with His followers to be “eyes wide open, pressing into the Scriptures to see the connection between His words and our times. Is there lawlessness in the streets, in politics, in medicine, in every worldly arena today? Are we examining the world we live in to see what matches Jesus’ words?
Jesus also calls us to have our oil lamps filled and burning (Matthew 25:1-13); this is a call for faith. Is your faith full and alive or is it flickering and almost ready to go out? He lovingly is pushing us to grow our faith by reading His Words, deeply studying His words, discussing His Words, and living out His Words. Are we filling up the oil of faith by doing these three things?
reading His Words - open up the Bible and read. Learn about the context of the passages, learn about the intent of the writer, learn about the audience.
deeply studying His words - The Big 5 is a great tool and resource for more in-depth study of the Words of God
discussing His Words - find a group of Christians to discuss what you find.
Also, living out His Words: what you learn, now live it out. Be kind, be humble, be giving with what God has given you.
Then Matthew 25 gives us another insight that is meant to elucidate that day of judgment and also help us to be ready (strong faith). Judgment will occur. But this impending judgment does not have to be bad news for us. It can be gospel (good news). Let’s see how.
The Nations will all be assembled before the Judge, Jesus. “Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” ( Matthew 25: 32). Jesus immediately separates the believers (sheep) from the unbelievers (goats). This separation occurs before the evidence is brought. Why?
And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left ( Matthew 25:33). The believers get a place of honor on Jesus’ right side. The unbelievers are ushered to a place of dishonor on 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 foundation of the world” (Matthew 25: 34). This kingdom is what we typically call, heaven. This kingdom is God’s eternal kingdom. It is the privilege to live in God’s presence forever, without fear, without judgment. We will forever live with Him as His dear children.
Scripture states, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:35-36). This is a good list for us to explore. In this list we can see the many good things that can be done for the benefit of people in need. Is someone around us in need of drink or food or shelter? Let’s help. But we must note, such actions do not merit eternal life. Such actions are the result of knowing that we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. These positive actions come by knowing that God has already placed us on the “right” by faith, not by our deeds.
Now the evidence is presented. This evidence is of faith. You can see that if you compare it with Jesus’ words to the unbelievers. “As you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me” (Matthew 25:45). Their judgment was based on what they missed; it was based on what they didn’t do or what they left undone. The unbelieving world does many great things that are good, exemplary, or even profound. But since they are not done in faith; they count for nothing in front of God’s court of eternal law.
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ (Matthew 25: 37-39). The righteous are surprised. They are not aware of any great things. That is also a work of faith - humility. Faith humbles us because we know that we don’t deserve any good thing from God. And faith creates good works. Here is some quick insight: when a believer simply acts in accordance with their faith, they will do good things (fruit of faith): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. In faith a believer ties her son’s shoes for the hundredth time. In faith a parent changes a diaper. In faith a believer holds back some harsh words that come to mind. In faith we take steps of kindness and leap into good actions. Faith is powerful but faith acts, often without us even realizing it.
Verse forty, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:40). Even the smallest and most insignificant act of kindness to the smallest, youngest, poorest person is a sign of faith that Jesus rewards in front of all humanity in that last day. When you have a twinge of pain as you see a person suffer, and you, in faith, act on that desire, you are acting on the faith that God has planted in your heart. You are expressing your comprehension of His grace poured out on you and therefore living in appreciation by being kind and loving to another human being.
How can he do that? Well, notice the stained glass window again. In the balance between both sides stands the cross. The cross is God’s sacrifice to the least of these: you and I. As sinners, we deserved nothing good from God. We deserved nothing but eternal wrath and judgment. But God the Father’s love compelled Him to come up with another solution. That solution was to make someone else the criminal and cause God’s eternal wrath to pour out on that victim. That victim, as we know, is Jesus.
The cross stands at the center of the scales of eternal judgment because God has already judged the sinfulness of the whole human race, found it wanting and then paid the penalty Himself. The death of God’s Son, Jesus, allows us to be relieved of this judgment. Everyone who sees their sinful heart and knows what they deserved and sees that God’s Son died in their place, that person will be counted on the right.
Do you see your sinful, wicked behavior? Do you see that you are deserving of eternal wrath and punishment? We confess it every Sunday! Does that confession mean anything to us? In Christ and with the truthful insight of Scriptures we are given this truth and depend on Christ Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Judgment is finished. That is why the sheep were immediately separated from the goats. The Judgment was already over when Christ died. Do you see what marvelous things he has done for you?
I pray that you will.
Blessings to you in Jesus!