Jesus always used parables when teaching those who were not already following him about the kingdom of God. A parable is a short example of something already known to explain something unknown.
One such parable Jesus used was about fishing to reveal what will happen at the end of the world. Listen to what he said in Matthew 13:47-50:
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered every kind:
48 which when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus is saying that the kingdom of heaven is like a net which men threw into the sea and caught many kinds of fish. When the net was drawn to shore, fishermen separated the good fish from the bad. The good fish were placed in containers while the bad were thrown away.
Then in verse 49 and 50 Jesus uses this scenario to explain what will happen to people at the end of the world.
Like the fishermen gathered in many fish, God shall gather all the people of the world and judge them! The just shall be separated from the wicked, and the wicked shall be cast into the lake of fire! And there shall be wailing (crying) and gnashing of teeth (the gnawing of the tongue in pain)
As harsh as this parable might sound, Jesus tells it because he loves us so much and does not want us to experience the horrors of hell and the lake of fire which is the consequences of sin!
This is the reason he gave his life for us. Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jewish Rabbi in John 3:16 of God the Father's great love for us, to keep us from the judgement of hell and the lake of fire. Listen to what he said:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jesus died for my sins and yours upon that cross. If you will repent of your sins, just as I have for mine, (tell God you are sorry for your sins and mean it) and ask Jesus to forgive you and change your heart, he will! Then live your life in obedience to Him, and you will spend eternity in Heaven instead of in the lake of fire with the wicked!
Jesus has come into the world just for this purpose, to save us from the consequences of our sins!
For the wages (consequences) of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 (Parenthesis is mine)
Jesus is God's gift to you! Won't you receive His gift of eternal life which is in Christ Jesus!
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