Depart

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. 

Matthew 25:41-46 

One of the hard realities about which Christ speaks clearly is that of eternal punishment. In the passage from which our text derives, He has set forth the facts of the Last Judgment in detail. He has spoken of the Throne of Judgment, of His place upon it, and of His purpose. He has identified who will attend and the division of them into two groups. He articulates the reasons for their acceptance or rejection. He has declared, the destination of each group. Some will ‘inherit the kingdom.’ Others, as our text declares will depart to what He refers to as, ‘the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ In the second portion of our text He uses the term, ‘everlasting punishment,’ and contrasts it with, ‘eternal life.’ As certainly as there is heaven, there is hell. Christ is the Continental Divide of humanity.  The gospel appeal is still going forth in the world. ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.’ The rest of life is the imitation of Him as evidence of true faith. To refuse Him is to embrace the eternal consequences. Now is time to embrace Him as the gospel freely offers Him.  

Our Gracious God and our Savior, 
we rejoice in the free offer of the Gospel. 
We praise You that You have redeemed a  
great multitude which no one can number. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning