S34P3 – The kingdom of heaven: unblemished
Matt. 13:47-50
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet which was lowered into the sea, and gathered fish of every kind, and when it was full, they dragged it up on the beach; and they sat down and sorted out the good fish into baskets, but the worthless ones they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw the wicked into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
There once was a king who was furnishing a new castle. He called all the local artisans to create for him furniture and artwork and rugs. He had very specific plans for what he wanted, and each one of those plans had something in common. The king required perfection. He would accept nothing that was not designed exactly according to his plans. Some of the artisans took exception to the king reviewing their work and discarding it for a mere imperfection that would easily go unnoticed. Their hearts would break as the king took these blemished objects and discarded them into the fire. They would cry and ask why he would throw away what they considered beautiful and certainly acceptable. The king’s only answer was that his kingdom was founded on perfection and could accept no less. Every detail had to adhere to this standard or his kingdom would cease to be perfect.
God desires to welcome all people into his kingdom. The issue is that of the standard. He has a standard for everything and everyone in his kingdom. God demands perfection. We imperfect humans are nothing but blemished shadows of that which could be acceptable to God. On our own, we cannot meet his standard. That is why many fish will be thrown away on that day. No one else’s standard is good enough for entry into God’s kingdom, and only one man ever met that standard. That is the man Jesus Christ. It is through him that we enter God’s kingdom as He allows us to wear his mantle of perfection when we give ourselves to him. Those of us who have accepted salvation are now part of the bride of Christ, which is continually going through a process of sanctification. We are to be presented as holy and unblemished on the day when Christ returns for his bride.
Anything less than perfection is not good enough for God. We might be satisfied with 99% in some areas, but God is not. The most minute amount of impurity makes the whole impure. His kingdom is perfect in righteousness, and no one who is unrighteous can enter. We must bow to God’s standards and allow him to make us worthy through Jesus Christ of entering that Holy place. Jesus has been promised a spotless bride, and that is what He will receive. It is the plan and design of his Father, and anything less is insufficient and unworthy. That which is not worthy of the kingdom is denied entry and thrown away. Father, thank You for making us worthy of your kingdom through your Son, and remind us that one day all that will remain is your perfect kingdom.