school of fish

A large school of fish is an impressive sight. Countless fish move together through the water. To our eyes, they almost merge into a single shape—and yet the school consists of many individual creatures.

The Lord Jesus also speaks about fish in Matthew 13:47–50. He compares the kingdom of heaven to a net cast into the sea, gathering fish of every kind. When the net is full, the fishermen draw it to shore. The good fish are gathered into containers, while the bad are thrown away.

A Coming Separation

The parable makes it clear that not everyone will reach the same destination. Today, people with genuine faith live alongside those whose Christian profession is merely outward. In the end, however, God will make a final and perfectly righteous separation.

It is therefore not enough to have been baptized, to attend a church or assembly, or to call oneself a Christian. What matters is whether we personally belong to Jesus Christ.

No one can make themselves into a “good fish.” We have all sinned and become guilty before God. Good works, religious efforts and a respectable life cannot remove that guilt.

God Wants to Save

God does not want people to perish. Therefore, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life. On the cross, He bore God’s judgment against sin in our place. He died and rose again on the third day.

Whoever acknowledges their guilt before God and puts their trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work receives forgiveness and eternal life. Salvation cannot be earned. It can only be received by faith as a gift from God.

The decisive question is therefore not, “Am I better than other people?” It is, “Have I taken refuge in Jesus Christ?”

A Truly Countless Multitude

In Revelation 7, John looks ahead to a special phase of the coming kingdom. He sees a great multitude from every nation coming out of the great tribulation. They stand before the throne and before the Lamb and cry:

“Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:10

Large schools of marine fish can consist of hundreds of thousands or millions of individuals. Particularly large schools may even contain tens of millions of fish. Numbers like these already surpass our imagination.

The multitude in Revelation 7, however, is described as a crowd that no one could number. There will therefore not be merely a few redeemed people. God will save an immense multitude from every nation, people and language—a multitude beyond all human ability to count. This shows how great and far-reaching His saving grace is.

Yet within this countless multitude, the personal question remains:

Will you be among those who are saved?

God is still offering you His grace. Come to Jesus Christ with your guilt. Do not trust in yourself, but in Him and His finished work. Whoever comes to Him, He will never cast out.

Whenever you see a large school of fish, remember this: the number of the redeemed will not be small. A countless multitude will one day praise God and the Lamb for their salvation. God desires to see you among those who are saved.