Folks who hear Jesus' Parable of the net that is thrown into the sea and draws out fish of every kind can picture in their minds eye the great catch. But when Jesus says that they bring the net ashore and sit down to throw out some of the fish, well that get's their attention! Throw out fish? Yes, Jesus says that the bad fish are thrown out.
By and by there is going to be a separation. The good from the bad. Yet the net of the Kingdom of Heaven draws in all the fish. Remember when Jesus sends out the disciples two by two so that they can invite folks into the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus did not give the two by two disciples (seventy of them all total) instructions as to races and classes of people to avoid. He did not name individuals to avoid nor did he tell the disciples how to be most successful. Jesus simply sends the disciples out to proclaim salvation, and bring all ages to Him, and to declare the Kingdom of Heaven is near in Him. Everyone is welcome to receive salvation in Jesus. (Luke 10:1-20)
All are invited to live Jesus Christ-like lives. In Jesus' Parable the good fish are His followers and believers. The early Church symbol for a Christian gathering was the sign of a fish on the door post. We still use the symbol of the fish as Christians today. So how do you know if you are a good or a bad fish? Let me ask you this-- are you living the abundant life which Jesus speaks to us about?
When you love Jesus Christ with your whole heart and your actions show others Christ then you are living the abundant life of Christ. Jesus says God is going to judge the fish and will separate them one day into good and bad. God is going to judge each and every person.
When you love God with your utmost, with all that you are, then when the tempter (satan) invites you to be a bad fish-- to lie, cheat, be unfaithful to your spouse, harm a child/teen, or even do what you know is wrong to do according to Kingdom of Heaven principles... when the tempter tries to sway you and cannot, because of your love for God, then abundant life in Christ is as exhilarating as swimming like a fish.
Good fish love God, Jesus Christ, and are cared for by Holy Spirit.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:47-50
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