🤷🏻‍♂️I Didn’t Know You🙅🏻‍♂️

 Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 11:26

Years ago me and my friend Tim Stubbs were sitting in his car in a parking lot in Grasham Park. A small city where young people in those days would hang out. All of a sudden this young man opened the left rear door and got into the backseat. He started talking to us and we started talking with him. After a while he got out and left. I ask Tim, who was that? Tim said I don’t know I thought he was a friend of yours. I said, I didn’t know him.

In Matthew chapter 7 verses 21-23 we read of something heart breaking; not only is it heart breaking but it should make us all stop and think. Matthew 7:21 (KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Here in Matthew 7 we read of something similar to that afternoon when an unknown person got into the backseat of Tim’s car. Not everyone that says unto me Lord, Lord shall enter into Heaven. Let’s follow up and see why.

Matthew 7:22 (KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

In that day! Could this be the day of judgement? Could it be the last day of our life the moment we all know is coming, but to today! I’ll let you decide that. I am interested in what is said and not so much when. Lord have we not prophesied. Have we not casted out devils  and done many, not a few but many wonderful works. Sounds good but if we look at what this many said we start to notice something. They start off saying Lord, Lord that sounds good but after that things start to go south. They say “have we not prophesied in thy name?” Looks like maybe the Lord has been left out and we the people have stepped in. This many have only had what they/we have done. It is always important to know what the Word of God says. 

Titus 3:5 (KJV) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

It’s not by the work we have done but by “his mercy he saved us.”   Then we read “have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?” Well bless your heart. That was great but that was not what was required. It’s not by what we have done but by what Jesus Christ has done.  

Romans 4:2 (KJV) For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Romans 11:6 (KJV) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

On that day it has to be Grace and not Works. In other words what Christ has done and not what we have done. For if we trust in what we have done then we will hear the same thing that these in Matthew 7 did.  Matthew 7:23 (KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.