Judgment day was the preacher's theme, and he thundered about God's wrath, sin and the day of judgment. A seven-year-old boy listened closely, tugged at his father's sleeve, and asked, "Will they call school off?" He was asking, "What's in it for me?"

Judgment day is on Christ's mind here in Matthew 25:31 and following verses. He is describing that fateful day soon "when the Son of Man comes in his glory" (v. 31). All the angels will be with him. Jesus will sit on a throne (v. 31). And before him will be gathered all the nations of the world (v. 32). There Jesus will divide the sheep from the goats, the righteous from the sinners.

To the righteous Christ will say, "Come" (v. 34). To the wicked he will say, "Depart!" (v. 41). The righteous will enter a "kingdom prepared" (v. 34), "eternal…