"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!’" - Jesus, Matthew 7:22-23
Imagine heaven. Throngs of people worshiping God for eternity, forever embraced by the fullness of His presence, fulfilling their purpose to enjoy Him into infinity. Jesus comes to judge your eternal destiny. You know that you spent years teaching that junior high Sunday School class, memorizing verses for Kingdom Kidz, and making it to youth group whenever there was free food. Of course, there were a few crazy years in college, and you pretty much didn't even think about God after that. Come to think of it the only reason you went to church in the first place was because Katrina West went there...man, she was hot. Anyway, you know that you've been a good person and have been around Christians for a long time. You've done your part.
You step up to Jesus, and you prepare your spiel. When you're done giving your defense, He looks at you right in the eyes. His eyes are direct, resolute, yet missing the sternness that you're used to seeing from your disappointed parent. Sternness is replaced with compassion, longing, and...pain. "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoer."
You have a flash of anger. You dare not show it, being surrounded by a throng of scary-looking angels, but it's there all the same. "BUT I WAS A GOOD PERSON!", you want to shout with righteous indignation. However, one look at those compassionate eyes convinces you not to say it. Something tells you that He knows your heart anyway. Something tells you that He knew it all along. After a moment of internal protest, you realize that He's right, and you deserve whatever you are going to get.
You didn't realize until that fateful moment, when eternity hung in the balance, when "My way or Jesus' way" was no longer a daily choice, that everything, everything is about Him. You thought it was about you. Even church, even your marriage...it was all about you. Before you turn away, you only have one thing to say to the Lord. "I wish someone would have told me it was going to be like this."
Is this you, or someone you know? Friends don't let friends deny Jesus. Love someone toward the Kingdom today...you'll have eternity to worship God, but not to evangelize. Lord, may Your Word sober us into living as a light in the darkness!
You step up to Jesus, and you prepare your spiel. When you're done giving your defense, He looks at you right in the eyes. His eyes are direct, resolute, yet missing the sternness that you're used to seeing from your disappointed parent. Sternness is replaced with compassion, longing, and...pain. "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoer."
You have a flash of anger. You dare not show it, being surrounded by a throng of scary-looking angels, but it's there all the same. "BUT I WAS A GOOD PERSON!", you want to shout with righteous indignation. However, one look at those compassionate eyes convinces you not to say it. Something tells you that He knows your heart anyway. Something tells you that He knew it all along. After a moment of internal protest, you realize that He's right, and you deserve whatever you are going to get.
You didn't realize until that fateful moment, when eternity hung in the balance, when "My way or Jesus' way" was no longer a daily choice, that everything, everything is about Him. You thought it was about you. Even church, even your marriage...it was all about you. Before you turn away, you only have one thing to say to the Lord. "I wish someone would have told me it was going to be like this."
Is this you, or someone you know? Friends don't let friends deny Jesus. Love someone toward the Kingdom today...you'll have eternity to worship God, but not to evangelize. Lord, may Your Word sober us into living as a light in the darkness!
