Our Nation in Peril

As I write, our president is preparing for a trip that will put a nail in the coffin of the United States of America, if not seal her doom. Matthew 25:31-46 describes what we refer to as "The Judgement Seat of Messiah." There are some very specific things that are mentioned that we, as Americans, should be concerned. This scene describes the judgement of the nations. It says all nations are gathered before the Messiah. It speaks of judgement of those who do not take care of "the brethren." The obvious context is the Jewish people. By our president participating (and in some cases orchestrating) in a process that will divide the city of Jerusalem, he is going against the written Word and the will of Yehuweh, our Heavenly Father. Please read the entirety of the text:

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
"Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

There are several things that stand out and are worthy of note:

• This is a judgement of the nations.
• There are nations that are found righteous.
• Those who are found righteous are surprised.
• Those who are found unrighteous are surprised.
• Righteousness has to do with doing as opposed to being.

I understand it goes against what we have been taught that righteousness could have anything to do with our performance. "After all, we are saved by grace and works has nothing to do with it." Once again, we find ourselves at odds with the whole of Scripture. We are certainly saved by grace, grace, and nothing but grace. But with grace, just as with freedom, comes responsibility. As born again believers, we have a responsibility to take care of the brethren. Our eyes must be opened to view the people of the Almighty, both the 'grafted in ones' and the 'natural branches', the way He does. When we pay attention to His laws that He has written on our hearts (Jer. 31:33) we find ourselves doing, simply because it is the right thing to do.

Shalom