“Not everyone that says unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven—but He that does the Will of My Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that Day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name? And in Your Name have cast out devils? And in Your Name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you that work iniquity’.”
Matthew 7:21-23
Truly, they’ll be “The Saddest Words Ever Heard.”
“Depart from Me, you worker of iniquity; I never knew you.”
The Scriptures are clear that there’s a “time appointed.” Even though there are many who believe you live and then you die or you live and then come back to try to get it right again and again, the fact remains “It is appointed unto man ONCE to die—and after this, the Judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
The question, then, is “Why do so many casually and callously deny and disbelief?”
For the same reason the people continued “partying hardy” until the door on Noah’s ark was closed—even as they are today on the Eve of Christ’s Second Coming (Gen. 6:1-24; Mt. 24:36-44).
That’s why Jesus said what He did in today’s Manna while delivering what is known as His “Sermon on the Mount” (Mt. 5:1-7:27). He knew there were many then—and now—who prided themselves on their religiosity. . .good works. . .benevolence, etc., and somehow thought those things would please/appease God and they’d be ushered into Heaven.
But, they were oh so wrong—even today!
Truly, it’s only through Christ’s shed Blood that we’re “justified (pardoned, adopted) and saved from God’s Wrath” (Rom. 5:9). It’s only through Christ’s Death on the Cross that we’re “reconciled (brought back) to God” (Rom. 5:10). And, it’s only through His Blood that we have an “Atonement (Covering over our sins) that produces rejoicing within us” (Rom. 5:11). Hallelujah!!
Yet, still, there are countless hundreds of millions who choose to believe otherwise.
They worship a different god(s), praying to them and offering sacrifices to them. They deprive themselves of earthly pleasures. . . “give their bodies to be burned”. . . give offerings to the poor, etc., somehow thinking God will be pleased.
But, He’s not—for there’s only one Sacrifice that can wash away the guilt and stench of sin.
The Sacrifice of Jesus, God’s Passover Lamb, on the Cross some 2,000 years ago.
As Jesus said, “There’ll be many in that Day—the Day of Judgment—who’ll stand there pleading their case and pointing to all that they’ve done. But, it’ll all have been for naught, for they never ‘knew Me’ (Phil. 3:10). They never invited Me into their hearts and surrendered their lives to Me. They kept singing ‘I Did It My Way’ and drew near to Me with their lips, but not their hearts (Mt. 15:8). Oh how sad that Day shall be when I look at them and say, ‘Depart from Me, you sinful worker; I NEVER KNEW YOU’.”
September 30, 2011
