I Never Knew You

Okay. So there are certain passages within the scriptures that I think every true Christian has somewhat of an anxious or nervous time reading sometimes. They are the types of scriptures that address a person thinking they are going to make it into heaven only to get their and find out that they aren't getting in. These can be found in the Gospels, in Romans, and other places throughout the scriptures. The big idea is that usually when one reads them, there is a kind of "Oh no, am I like that?" or a "Lord please don't let that be me" thought process that goes along with them. I think one of the main ones that people are familiar with is the one found in Matthew 7:21-23. It reads like this,

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will
say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in
your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to
them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.

Okay. I just want to share my thoughts that actually didn't come to me until I was discussing with someone how one can know that this will not be them. Funny thing is that I have always never really quite understood why these people didn't make it in. I mean I had ideas, but I think the one that I shared with that person is closest to what is right. Think about it, Jesus says that they prophesied in Christ's name, cast out demons in Christ's name, and did many great works in His name and then states, "No, only those who do the will of my Father will get in." When you think of a Christian what do you think of? Do you think of someone who is a good person? Someone who tells people about Jesus? (I say "tells" because I think prophesy here is meaning to declare, not tell the future as some people think of prophesy.) Someone who does good works? Isn't that what should characterize the life of a Christian? When I think of these people I don't have a picture or idea in my mind as someone in the likes of Hitler or Charles Manson. I mean I have an idea of a pretty good person as far as my mind conceives. I think that is exactly what the scriptures want us to think of these people which is to think that they were good people. However, we must understand what Christ is talking about when he says, those who do the will of my Father. The book of John chapter 1 verses 12 & 13 helps us to see what that is,

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to
become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

It is God's will for people to be born again and believe in Christ. The problem these people have is not that they don't have good works, but they don't have what God wills, which is faith in Christ. These people have the same problem that Paul speaks of the Jews having in Romans 9:30-32 which reads,

What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,

This is the problem with why the people in Matthew 7 did not make it in. What are the reasons that they give to justify why they should be there in Heaven? They are all acts of works. Not one of them says, "but Lord, I believed in you and trusted that I was righteous in you!" For there are many passages that state that whoever believes and trusts in Christ and his work on the cross will be saved. Let us always remember that faith precedes and is more important than works. May God grant us faith increasing in Jesus Christ and may we cling to the cross of Christ as our only hope for salvation.