Matthew 7:21-23: Not everyone who calls out to Me, “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, “Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.” But I will reply, “I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.”

It’s appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment. All humans will be made to give an account for the way they chose to live while on earth. Christians will have to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and sinners will be brought before the White Throne Judgment of God.

In His teaching in Matthew, Jesus brings out a very important subject that needs to be shared with people around the world. There will be “Christians” that will stand before Jesus believing (and even convinced) that heaven will be their eternal destination. According to Jesus, they will base this philosophy upon their “own works of righteousness,” instead of basing it upon faith in Him. The very sad part about this truth,  that Jesus reveals, is that it’s directed toward those who have participated in ministry. If these “ministers” are deceived, yet they’re leading people, then where will that leave the people that they’re teaching?

Anyone can confess that they’re a Christian, but that doesn’t make them a child of God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will demonstrate that love by keeping His commandments. Are you a Christian? Do you live your life based on your beliefs and opinions, or do you live your life according to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit? Paul teaches us in Romans 8:14 that those who are led by the Spirit of God are the (mature) sons of God. James warns us that if we’re “hearers” only of the Word, but not “doers” of the Word, then we deceive ourselves. The Apostle John tells us that if we say we have truth, but walk not in the light, then we have gone astray and the truth isn’t in us.

Do you discipline your life to live according to the Word of God? It’s very important that you realize the truth about having an obedient heart as a believer.

It’s one thing for an evil person to know they have rejected Christ and they’re going to spend eternity in torment. However, there will be MANY that will come before Christ thinking they’re saved, but will hear Jesus say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”  They will have to depart from Him because they did their own “thing” and refused to obey the will of God. Jesus calls such a person “foolish.”

If you have faith in Christ, you will also have a deep desire to obey the Father. If that desire to obey isn’t in your heart, then ask the Lord to save you from unbelief and self-righteousness. The result of such humility and honesty will invite the Spirit of God to fill your heart with His life and the power to obey His will on the earth. My prayers are with you.  —submitted by Asa Dockery, US