Left or Right?
One day, Jesus will return and He will separate the sheep to His right and the goats to His left.
“When the Son of Man in His glory (His majesty and splendor), and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them [the people] from one another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats; and He will cause the sheep to stand at His right hand, but the goats at His left.” ~Matthew 25:31-33 AMPC
We could be going about our regular business when Jesus returns.
“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.” ~Matthew 24:38-41 NASB
“I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.” ~Luke 17:34-35 WEB
We can rejoice and look forward to His return, we do not have to fear.
“Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage] and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity]. Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet, and all your ways will be steadfast and sure. Do not turn away to the right nor to the left [where evil may lurk]; turn your foot from [the path of] evil.” ~Proverbs 4:25-27 AMP
“A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.” ~Ecclesiastes 10:2 NASB
We can trust the Lord to direct us because our heart trusts in Him.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.” ~Psalm 119:105 WEB
“Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” ~Isaiah 30:21 NASB
We each have a choice. Will we turn left or right? The wise turn right by responding to His gospel message of eternal life, repenting, and following after Him. The foolish turn left by rejecting His invitation for eternal life.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of eternities) we shall be with the Lord! Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words.” ~1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 AMPC
“Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” ~Mark 1:15 NASB
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” ~John 3:16 WEB
Recommendations
What is the Unparalleled Result of Gaining Wisdom? – Strength with Dignity
Astonishing and Epic Beauty Makes for Tremendous Praise – Strength with Dignity
References
34 Bible Verses about Left. Published by Open Bible. Retrieved November 30, 2023, from What Does the Bible Say About Left? (openbible.info)
100 Bible Verses about the Right or to the Left. Published by Open Bible. Retrieved November 30, 2023, from What Does the Bible Say About The Right Or To The Left? (openbible.info)
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631.
Amplified Bible, Classis Edition (AMPC) Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway
Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We receive a one-word prompt and write whatever comes to our mind. The one word prompt this week is left.
10 thoughts on “Will You Turn Left or Right? One Is Unbelievably Better”
Someone’s got to go there,
and bind their self-caused lacerations,
breathe the cloying fetid air,
for these are duty stations
too, that cannot be left unmanned,
and it’s there we carry Christ
and the truth we can now understand
that none are born just to be sacrificed,
but like that lone lost wilful sheep
that led itself astray
will be pursued past call to sleep,
past sunset of the dying day
with weary feet and tear-streamed face
to be restored to love and grace.
It is beautiful to see the Good Shepherd pursuing “lost willful sheep” and carrying them home again, Andrew. And if we are honest, we have all been the lost and willful sheep at some point in our lives.
Lisa, this post and all you shared brought to mind the old song “Wish We’d All Been Ready” (https://youtu.be/aPJpZdEOILQ?si=gA3wsB–SORGqgRx). We both came to the same point – we all have choices. May we choose wisely and keep praying for those around us.
Yes, that is my prayer, Joanne, “Lord, help us to live wisely.”
Great post. I loved the Scriptures you quoted. It is a great reminder for all of us, saved and unsaved.
💗Terri D FMF #9
I’m so glad you were encouraged today, Terri!
Love this post, Lisa. You’ve expressed what I would have liked to so much better.
You have the gift.
Thank you for your encouragement, Sandra, I needed it today. I appreciate you!
choices are hard but are needful aren’t they? But we can’t make the choice for God without his intervention. oh that more of us would heed that call. FMF12
Choices can be hard, Annette, as the wide road seems so easy, and the narrow road seems to have so many challenges, but choosing His road does make all the difference. [Referencing The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost]