April 29 - Matthew 7:21-23

April 29 - Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

We live in a state of grace right now, whether we believe it or not.  Our sins have been redeemed by Jesus Christ.  He died on a cross in order to save us and he offers us eternity in heaven with the Father.

As you read the Revelation, though, you discover that this state is not one that will last forever. There will finally come a day when it is finished, when the harvest will be brought in and the grapes will be taken from the vine.  On that day, everything changes.  The Lord will enact the justice that we so well deserve.

It is unimaginable to me that there will be people who will see hell, but on that day, that will be their eternal reality.  Those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who refuse to obey the will of God.  I’m not talking about those who make mistakes and screw things up, but still desire to live by God’s will.  That’s called being human.

However, those who steadfastly believe that their will is better than God’s, who may do things in God’s name, but do not allow him to be part of their lives.  Wholesale slaughter was done in the name of God during the Crusades, but they were certainly not obedient to God.  Slavery was performed in the name of God. Even today, hate crimes are enacted using God’s name.

God is a God of Love. God is Love. Being obedient to God’s will is living in love. It’s that simple.

We don’t know when that day will come; we don’t know if it will come globally or individually for each of us, but it will come.  Will you be crying out, “Lord, Lord …” or will you rest, confident in knowing that you have loved and lived within the will of the Father.