September 10 — "When All Is Said and Done"

Today's Reading: Matthew 13:24-43

Jesus didn’t just teach—He painted with words. In Matthew 13, He gave a sobering image of the wicked’s fate: a fiery furnace, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. That weeping isn’t a sniffle—it’s gut-wrenching sorrow. The kind that comes when someone realizes what they’ve lost… and that it’s too late to get it back. Oof. That’s heavy.

But then—on a contrasting canvas—Jesus turns our eyes to the righteous. Like a sunrise bursting through storm clouds, He speaks of breathtaking hope: “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” That’s the heart of it. When eternity begins, those who belong to Jesus will blaze with His glory forever. The believer’s story doesn’t end in judgment—it ends in radiant joy.

This echoes Daniel 12:3: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

But why “shine like the sun”? Jesus could’ve chosen any metaphor. Why this one?

First—the sun is the brightest light we know. It outshines every other star in our sky. To shine like the sun means to radiate with a glory so dazzling, darkness doesn’t stand a chance. In Heaven, you won’t be a flickering candle—you’ll blaze with the brilliance of God’s own presence.

Second—the sun gives life and warmth. Without it, the earth would freeze and die. Jesus is saying the righteous won’t just reflect light—they’ll radiate the vitality and life-giving power of God’s glory.

And finally—it’s a glimpse of our coming transformation. Right now, we walk through life wrapped in weakness and sorrow, like clouds that obscure the light within us. But Jesus promises that one day, those clouds will part, and what He’s been growing in you—quietly, faithfully—will erupt in radiant glory. Paul said it best: “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).

So what now? Live as a child of light (Ephesians 5:8). Keep sowing. Keep praying. Keep loving. Keep serving. Keep looking up. You’re not destined for ashes—you’re destined for radiance.

And may the Lord whisper to you in every weary moment: You are destined to shine.