The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-09-18


light of the ultimate fulfilling of his
purpose for this world. Our Lord here
makes no reference to the final judg-
ment mentioned in the Apocalypse. In
that hour earth and heaven will fee
away. Here there is no such passing
away nor do the dead appear. The
son Is enthroned. He administers
judgment He is assisted by the &C.
companying angels. The believer
must appear before the judgment I'll
Cor. $40; Rom. 14:10, but his des-
tiny Is decided the moment he be-
lieves, John 5:24. Christ first came in
humiliation, when he comes this time
twill be in glory" ". 3D. He may
come at any moment, Matt. 24:42-44.
This scene is more the description of
judgment than of trial. The test
ing is taking place today.
Separating Test.
II. Those Commended, w. 34.40.
The separating test is the attitude
of the nations toward the brethren OF
the Lord. Here Jesus emphatically
speaks of his kingship, hence the hon
ored position, "on his right hand"
In his teaching Jesus had empha-
sized the fact that those who do the
will of God are his next Of kin. Here
they are, "Ye blessed of my father. "
This word blessed" means, literally,
well spoken Of" We are blessed of
God in the heavenlies in Christ, Eph.
1:3, but we are also to be blessed
with an inheritance in the kingdom
See Gal. 5:19, q; Eph. 5.5; Cor. So,
10 contrasted with II Tim. 2:2; AS;
james 2::5; Rev. 21:7. This blessing is
a gift, Luke 1882, which has been
prepared from the foundation of the
world" ". 34). Mans destiny de-
ponds upon the object and act of his
faith, but the test, the proof, the evil
dence of that faith is in his conduct
(Gal. SIS; James 2:17, 18). Altruism
does not save the soul, but truly
saved soul will be compassionately
serviceable. 1t is ours to assuage the
thirsty, John Ala, 6:55; ours to feed
the hungry, John 6:32, IS; ours to re
ceive the stranger, Eph. 2:13, IS. 10;
ours to clothe the naked. lisa. 64:6;
ours to visit the sick, Luke 1853, Is;
and ours to visit the prisoner, Luke
Alb. Note carefully the unconscious
ness of good deeds. The Christian is
so identified with Jesus Christ as tc
regard these deeds as not his own
but Christ Within" The real test is
not so much love for God or Christ
whom we have not seen, but love fol
the brethren whom we have seen q
John BID. Our attitude toward oul
brethren is the evidence that we have
received Christ. Our life of service
tiluagh we may be "the least" will
be commended before the throne ant
the assembled nations and angels. He
is identified with the least" This
sentence needs to be interpreted In
the light of the entire scene and it,
relationship. Those commended are
sent away into an age-abiding life
of felicity.
ThA Other Side.
nj. Those Condemned, wv. Alas
Turning now to the other side, what 6
change we behold! Come" is now
depart" not to age-abiding JOY, but t.
age-abiding fire, which is age-abidint
punishment. We do not infer tina
this parable refers to the place O
the departed dead, to the final judg
ment of sin but to the time of hi
second advent and that the life tina
is blessed and the place Of punish
ment are on this earth during the ag'
of his millennial reign. Such at leas
is as far as we feel we have RICH
to go in the Interpretation of this par
able. Those who do not listen to tn,
come" of Jesus now, will hear hi
depart" hereafter Notice there i
no reference to the father following
the curse such as we find in connec
ton with the blessed" Men ar
cursed by themselves, John SAC
Those who seek to save themselve
are likewise cursed, Gal. $40. TIL
kingdom is prepared for the righteou
and punishment is not prepared TO
man. 1t was prepared for the dew
(41) and his cohorts.
| w. The Lesson content. Admit
ting the difficulty of Interpretation lie
| us look at the picture. Jesus o.
Mount Olivet, sitting in the midst 0
his disciples, knew full well what wa
| awaiting him on Calvary. Judged b
human standards he was defeated an
his defeat was to be made irrevocabl
by that ignominous death. So hi
enemies confidently believed. Yet
| looks beyond the circumstance to tn
| coming centuries and through them t
the end of the age, and claims tn
victory. He speaks without hesitatio
of his hour Of triumph and glory
| ". 81