The Sheep and the Goats
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Matthew 25:31-34
The passage above tells us that the sheep inherit eternal life while the goats inherit eternal punishment. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matthew 25:41). Satan’s goal is to turn as many people as possible into goats, stealing them from God and eternal life. Christians are protected by God from the evil one so Satan cannot turn a sheep into a goat. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
Christians are protected from the evil one but are still subject to fall to sinful desires or to follow the lies of Satan because they do not know the truth. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). The majority of people in the world are on the broad road to destruction while God’s people, who are few by comparison, walk on the narrow road to life.
It can be very tempting to believe Satan’s lies because they appeal to our selfish and physical natures. That is why we must be thoroughly grounded in God’s truth from the Bible in order to quickly recognize Satan’s lies. Satan doesn’t come to Christians with strong lies but instead he tempts us with small lies which are easy to justify. A Christian must recognize temptation when it comes and pray for strength not to yield to it; this is remaining strong in Christ. This can be difficult because the world around us is filled with goats who believe Satan’s lies.
Satan’s goal is not only to turn people into goats but to turn countries into fields of goats. We live in a time when nations can clearly be seen as sheep and goat nations, because Satan is attacking relentlessly to destroy Christianity. Careful consideration of world events reveals which nations are sheep nations and which are goat nations.
Today keep walking with the Lord and studying the Word to know God’s truth; this will help you to recognize Satan’s lies. No matter if you are living in a sheep nation or a goat nation, be strong in the Lord and remember that you are part of God’s family and he will carry you through to your heavenly home.
Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to faithfully walk with you until you take me home to be with you. Give me strength to endure the evils in this world. In Jesus name, Amen