by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
DEPART YE CURSED
everlasting fire. Unfortunately, much of some people’s theology has been learned from the comic strips rather than from the Scriptures themselves. Invariably hell is pictured as being a place of fire and torment, the devil with horns and a pitchfork. But such is not necessarily the case. From the point of view of fire and torment there isn’t a man who has yet gone to hell. Hell is not occupied at this moment. This comes after the final judgment. Now a sinner who dies goes into the abode of the wicked dead to await the resurrection of the un righteous and the judgment day. The reason they are cursed and cast out is just the opposite reason why the sheep will be welcome into the inheritance. Bewilderment is their ex perience as a result. The blessed didn’t see the Lord but they did see the poor, the sick, the naked, the imprisoned. As a result they did something about those in need. But here are these, perhaps outwardly just as religious, but who did nothing to bring assist ance or alleviation. Our Lord Jesus points out to them that though He was in heaven, yet He, in spirit, was among the poor, naked, ill-housed, prisoners and other. The question could also be put to us to day, “What think ye of Christ?” Are we serving Him today as we should? You may be asking how this may be achieved? Unfortunately, the world attempts the answer in mere social service. You and I, however, can give the real response because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. As believers in Him we are to be faithful stewards so that we never shall be judged with the nations. We shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. This is not a question of our salvation, but rather when we will give an account of our stewardship. May we hear Him say to us, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord!” 13
F or our last stijdy in the Olivet Discourse we consider that our Lord Jesus Christ was explaining the glorious coming of the Son of man and the judgment upon the nations. He will gather them together and divide them into two classes. These will be the righteous and the unright eous, or as suggested in our parable, the sheep and the goats. The sheep are rewarded by a won derful invitation, “Come ye blessed of my Father.” The goats, however, are rebuked and excluded. The Lord tells them, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). What a contrast this is with verse 34. It is interesting, as well as impor tant, to realize that hell and an eternal fire were never prepared for man. It was not God’s intention, by His mar velous grace, that men should reject His love. He, of course, in His omni science, knew what decision every in dividual would make. There is no need to underscore the fact that God has never hated mankind. A good example of this is John 3:16 and 17. A careful reading of the Gospels also will show us that the great heart of God is emi nently interested in saving men rather than in condemning them. The open ing chapters of Genesis set this truth forth very clearly. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden fleeing from God, it was the Lord who sought them out. They did not look for Him. At that time God provided a covering for them which established a type of the redemption which was to come. Now, as we come chronologically to the end of the age, as far as the parable is concerned, we find the re sults of man’s rejection of His Crea tor’s goodness and mercy. As a result He must speak to them not as a lov ing God or as a merciful Saviour, but as a righteous Judge. Let us think for a moment of this
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