Perelandra

Matthew 7:21-23 (English Standard Version)

I Never Knew You

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

This verse is often slated as a threat that Christians don’t do more in service with their gifts. Did we somehow miss somewhere along the way that salvation is a free and undeniable gift?

The problem with the subjects here are not that they did too little. The problem is that they were doing a lot for the wrong reasons. What was it that Jesus said to them? “I never knew you”. That is the problem.

The subjects never knew the real Jesus and this should be obvious because they were asking the wrong QUESTIONS of Jesus. You don’t earn your salvation and you do not present WORKS as your claim to Heaven.

If they had known Jesus, had a real relationship with him, their claim on Heaven would have been (with faces planted in the dirt, BTW) “Lord, we are not worthy of your presence even now, and only by your shed Blood and resurrection can we claim residence in Heaven.”

They were asking the wrong questions and staking the wrong claims because they didn’t know the Savior.

Don’t meet in the middle of the hallways, ever.  With this in mind, future churches should be built with conversation cubbies so people could gather and talk freely before and after services and intentionally not be in the way.

Hold the door.  Not just for old people and women, but for EVERYONE.

Hat’s OFF in the building (just kidding, Patrick!)

When driving through the church parking lot, SLOW DOWN and let people in.  Your in church, not late for work.  And if you ARE late, LEAVE EARLIER next time.

Don’t talk  during the sermon.  If a kid is screaming/crying, don’t look at the family with a frown…they are here for God’s word too.  Turn to the family and help calm the child.  OTOH, do NOT let a crying child to rule the room.