At this moment, the dragnet is being pulled over the earth. It is collecting all sorts of things — churches, committed Christians, the lukewarm, denominations, ministries, the "religious," church-goers, etc. The Lord will sift through this motley crew when the net is finally hauled ashore on Judgment Day at the end of the world. Then the angels will separate the worthwhile from the useless (Mt 13:48).

God waits till the end before He separates the wheat from the weeds (Mt 13:30) and the sheep from the goats (Mt 25:32). Human beings approach this situation differently. Unlike God, we want to pull out the weeds before harvest (Mt 13:28). We decide who makes the team and who doesn't before the season starts. But God makes the final cut at the end. The devil uses this to cause confusion. We think that, if we're playing the religious games, have a position on the team, and score a few points, we must be on the team for good. But God hasn't made the final cut.

Many things are in the dragnet, but only those saved and sanctified by Jesus through the Spirit make the final cut.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 20, 2004

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