On Judgment Day, we will be escorted into "the valley of decision" (Jl 4:14). All people of all nations will be present. Adam, Eve, Judas, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, Mother Teresa, your mother, etc. — everyone will be there. The Lord will divide the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right side, and they will live with Him forever in heaven (Mt 25:33-34). Then He will put the goats on His left, and they will be damned forever (Mt 25:33, 46).
"The valley of decision" is a fearsome place. However, "it is no part of your heavenly Father's plan that a single one of these little ones shall ever come to grief" (Mt 18:14). The Father's will is not for us to be damned but to be saved (1 Tm 2:4). He even sent His Son to die for us and save us. Because Jesus is with us, we can fearlessly walk through "the valley of decision" and "the valley of the shadow of death" (Ps 23:4, RSV-CE).
On Judgment Day, we can "stand erect and hold" our heads high (Lk 21:28). We can sing: "Alleluia! The Lord is King, our God, the Almighty! Let us rejoice and be glad, and give Him glory! For this is the wedding day of the Lamb" (Rv 19:6-7). "Our love is brought to perfection in this, that we should have confidence on the day of judgment" (1 Jn 4:17), in "the valley of decision."
| PRAYER: | Jesus, Savior and Judge, have mercy on me. |
| PROMISE: | "Blest are they who hear the word of God and keep it." –Lk 11:28 |
| PRAISE: | Pope St. Callistus I wrote, "We enjoy the possession of a heavenly kingdom together with the patriarchs, apostles and prophets." |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College