Rescued by Jesus Christ from the Flames

“The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” [1]

The tares among the wheat are those that offend God and practice lawlessness. Jesus speaks of them being cast into a furnace, but not dying. They wail and gnash their teeth. The righteous are with their heavenly Father and are shining like the sun.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went, and sold all that he had and bought it.” [2]

We should never undervalue the Kingdom of Heaven. Too many are placing all their investments in the temporary treasures of this world. Jesus Christ, who has been in heaven and is in heaven now, compares His kingdom to a treasure and to a pearl. Something worth investing all that we have to obtain!

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” [3]

A judgment day is coming. “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” [4]

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” [5]

The Lord knows those who are doing right and those who are doing evil. His eyes of favor are on the righteous, but His face is against those who do evil.

“My tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.” [6]

Those who have asked Christ to forgive their sins, and to clothe them in His righteousness can rejoice because these are works He does easily. Impossible for us, but easy for Him.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [7]

Jesus Christ is the key to righteousness. We humble ourselves before Him. We profess that He is right, namely that we are sinners in need of a Savior, and that He alone can save us from our sins, and our Lord Jesus forgives our sins and cleanses us from unrighteousness.

“This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the Name of the Son of God.” [8]

Do you want to be safe from the eternal flames where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth? Believe in the Name of the Son of God! Believe in Jesus Christ! Profess Him as your Savior and Lord! He loves you and wants you to be with Him forever in His kingdom of love.

[1] Matthew 13:39-43
[2] Matthew 13:44-46
[3] Matthew 13:47-50
[4] Hebrews 9:27
[5] Psalm 34:15-16
[6] Psalm 35:28
[7] 1 John 1:8-9
[8] 1 John 5:11-13