Final Exam

I mentioned last week that I have a final exam coming up, as do many of you (some more than others). Final exams are the events at which teachers can see how much you learned during the semester or year. Some professions have exams that decide whether or not you get to be certified to practice in that profession, such as the bar exams for lawyers or CPA exams for accountants.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us about a kind of final exam. The things that He mentions are not the only things that God expects of us, but the fact that He highlights these as part of His description of Judgment Day tells us how important He thinks they are. At the final judgment, He describes a scene in which we're all gathered before Him and He separates those who will enter Heaven from those who won't. The "final exam" question? How well did we treat others. Listen to His words: "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.'" The righteous in the description are confused by this, so Jesus clarifies: "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

How well do you treat others? Your brothers and sisters...those that aren't popular...those at school that everyone makes fun of...those that don't look like us...those that don't agree with us. Think about it. Like our teachers say, "It will be on the test."

Have a great week, and be kind.

(From the Johnson Street Youth Group Trumpeter, 4/13/08)