Did you know that fish lay thousands of eggs? And those eggs hatch into tiny fish and grow into big fish that will also lay thousands of eggs. You would think a lake would soon be so crowded with fish that you could hardly move a boat around in the water. However, God knows that many kinds of fish are good for food.
Here is a parable that Jesus told about fishing for food in the Sea of Galilee long ago. This was not rod-and-line fishing, but the fishermen were using a great fishing net, big enough to hold all kinds of fish. The fishermen spread it out in the sea, and I suppose they had weights to keep the lower edge down while they pulled the net full of fish to shore. It was a good catch that day, heavy with flopping fish that did not like being pulled onto shore.
Every fisherman knows that some fish are worthless for food, and a net will bring in all kinds -good and bad. The good ones must be gathered into containers for the fisherman to sell or use for himself, and the bad ones are either thrown away or perhaps used for fertilizer.
So the fishermen sat down on the shore to do the sorting -good ones put here and bad ones go over there. Maybe they made some mistakes, as we all do, but this is one of God’s parables, and He never makes even the smallest mistake! Jesus told us the meaning of this parable, and here it is.
A time is coming when God will be in charge of sorting those people who have loved and trusted in His Son Jesus from those who have refused His offer of love and salvation. His angels will do the sorting. They are God’s obedient servants, and they do not make mistakes. They will separate the wicked from the just. The wicked will be cast into the furnace of fire, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.
You may ask, “Did Jesus really say that?” Yes, He certainly did. You may find it in Matthew 13:5050And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:50). The wicked and the just are mixed together in this wide world right now, but the day is coming soon when God’s wisdom will do the sorting. He knows all about each one of us and He looks right into our hearts.
God says, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)). So is there hope for any of us? I know I’m a sinner, so what can I do? I can listen and obey God’s Word that says, “By Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)). A bad fish can’t be changed into a good one, but God can give a sinner a new life that never sinned. He can give you this wonderful everlasting life, because He gave His Son to die for you. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
Jesus said that hell is a very real place, but Jesus Himself is the way to the Father’s home in heaven. Will you come to Him for that wonderful everlasting life that He is waiting to give you?
Think About God’s Word!
1. Why do fishermen sort their fish?
Project: What does Revelation 20 teach us about how people are “sorted” by God?