None of us are sheep herders and none of us are goat herders. In spite of this, if I were to hold up two pictures (one of a sheep and one of a goat) and I asked you to point to the picture of the goat, you would be able to correctly identify the goat. The reason that you would be able to give the correct identification is because the difference between a sheep and a goat is obvious to all. As we open our Bibles to Mt. 25 notice what Jesus says in Matthew 25:32-33, "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." In this 25^th chapter of the book of Matthew Jesus uses three parables for the purpose of us determining whether we are a sheep or goat.

Are you a sheep or a goat, when it comes to preparedness (Mt. 25:1-13)?

The point of this parable is stress the importance of being prepared for the Lord’s second coming. These maidens were wise or foolish based on whether they were prepared or unprepared.

The second coming of Christ presents mankind with an uncertain certain, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Mt. 25:13). The certainty is that the Lord is coming again. The uncertainty is that we do not know when Christ is coming again. We can face this uncertain certain with confidence by simply preparing ourselves for the Lord’s return.

There is another Biblical uncertain certain that we must prepare ourselves for—death, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27). As finite beings so often we think temporally rather than eternally. When we catch a cold and are sick for two or three days that is a temporal consequence. Heaven and hell are eternal consequences, "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Mt. 25:46).

Spiritually, whether we are sheep (prepared) or goats (unprepared) often becomes blurred and we become unable to distinguish between fact and fiction; because we are basing our preparedness on a subjective (feelings, think-so’s) and not an objective (God’s word) standard. Jesus sets forth what we must do prepare ourselves for heaven in Mt. 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

Are you a sheep or a goat when it comes to faithfulness (Mt. 25:14-30)? 

The point of this parable is to stress the point of one being active in his service for the Lord. From this parable we learn three important things.

First, there is responsibility. God never demands from us abilities that we do not have, but He does demand that we use the abilities that He has given us to their fullest potential. Whatever abilities we have we must use them to the service of God.

Second, there is reckoning. With responsibility comes accountability. We must be good stewards of the abilities and talents that the Lord has blessed us with.

Third, there is reward. We are either profitable or unprofitable in our service to God. There is a big difference between well-said and well done.

Are you a sheep or a goat, when it comes to helping others (Mt. 25:31-46)?

The point of this parable is that these people simply neglected to do that which they had the opportunity to do. We are accountable for what we could and should have done but did not do, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).

One characteristic that is widely neglected but sorely needed is compassion, "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (I John 3:17,18). The cartoon characters Elmer Fudd and Daffy Duck taught me a valuable lesson about compassion. Daffy was trying to survive a blizzard, he was covered in ice. In exhaustion he made it to Elmer Fudd’s window. With his last bit of energy, he tapped on the glass. Inside Elmer, draped in a warm robe, sat by a blazing fire. When Elmer heard the faint tapping, he looked up and said, "I can not bear to see suffering; I have got to do something." Elmer walked over to the window and pulled down the shade. There are many Elmer Fudd’s in the world today, hardened, indifferent and blinded to the suffering of others . Others who are wounded, physically or spiritually, who are needing someone to show them kindness. Paul says in Phil 2:3-5, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." In this selfish world today, in a society where the people seem to be concerned only about themselves rather than the well-being of others. Christ-like compassion is so badly needed.

When you examine your life with the word of God (II Cor. 13:5), are you a sheep or goat in preparedness, faithfulness and helping others?

Mike Gurganus
PO Box 916
Henderson, NC 27536