“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’ve discussed this important passage before. But if we don’t examine Christ’s words here, we could be one of the “many” who miss the message. Jesus says that lip service won’t get you into Heaven. Simply calling Him Lord doesn’t make Him your Lord. He specifically says doing the will of His Father is the key to eternity with God.
So, what exactly is the “will of the Father”?… Jesus says people will claim to preach, cast out demons, and work miracles… things they assume are God’s will. But according to Jesus, while these may be byproducts… they are not a fulfillment of the will of the Father. Unfortunately, many will be misled by this, assuming these activities will earn them a place in Heaven.
But look closely at Jesus’ reason for turning them away. “I NEVER KNEW YOU”. That means Jesus knowing you, is the key to Heaven. It’s not preaching, teaching Sunday school, or going to church. It is not even knowing Jesus… IT IS JESUS KNOWING YOU.
There is only one way to have a relationship with Christ …by spending time with Him. There are no short cuts… no “fire insurance prayers” to recite… It is recognizing Jesus as God, confessing and repenting of sin, acknowledging His resurrection as your redemption, and being filled with His Spirit. If you do that, you will naturally build a daily relationship with Him. Talking to Him through prayer and listening through the Word. That is the will of the Father… that you experience a saving relationship with the Son, in which Jesus recognizes you, because your time with Him has changed your heart.
Don’t let what you do FOR God… distract you from being WITH God. Build your bond with Christ, it is the litmus test of your faith… and the key that opens the door of Heaven.
“Apples don’t make a tree an apple tree, they just show that it is one.”
