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. Matthew 7.21
Not everyone in your church who claims to love and serve God has a personal relationship with Him. Not everyone who looks, speaks, or acts like a Christian is going to heaven. People you expect would be in heaven will not be there. God doesn’t call us Christians; He calls us His children. Christians are not going to heaven, only those who have put their faith in Jesus and surrendered their hearts to follow Jesus. ‘Good’ people are not going to heaven, only ‘bad’ people who have repented and accepted God’s forgiveness.
Jesus says that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. It’s not enough to sing and pray at deafening decibels or present large offerings or lead a church or teach Bible studies. Fancy titles or executive positions aren’t part of the criteria for entering the kingdom of heaven. God is neither interested nor impressed by our outward efforts projecting a false image that we are His. We can deceive people with our outward piety and devotion, but we cannot deceive God who looks at our hearts and knows if we are hypocrites or not.
The Lord knows those who are His and lets all who are known as His depart from evil. Only those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom of heaven. Not those who think about doing the will of God or those who even teach others to do the will of God but those who do it. What is the will of God? Generally speaking, it is obeying God’s commands: Loving God with all of our hearts, loving your neighbour as yourself, sharing the good news of the gospel, being led by His Spirit, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him daily. Are we living to please the Lord?
No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again – who is reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him. 1 John 3.9 AMP
Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils?’
No one at the airport wants to be told that their name isn’t on the flight’s manifest. No one already at their holiday destination wants to be told that the hotel rooms are fully booked. But Jesus says that many will get to the ‘gates of heaven’ and will be surprised that their names were never written in the Book of Life. These people assumed that their laudable achievements and exploits for the kingdom were synonymous with a personal relationship with Jesus. It’s scary to think that some people in hell had healed people, prophesied, or hosted several outreaches
Many’ refers to what might be numerous or countless. It’s frightening to think that many dressed in their Sunday best, many who attended several conferences or led Bible studies, many who sang loudly in church choirs or who gave generously to good causes will not be in heaven. Many who worked in a church, many who stood behind pulpits or podiums and preached out their hearts will be among those who might be rejected by God. Many who were worshipped as saints, who kept the Ten commandments, and/or the sacraments will be sorely disappointed that their good works were inadequate.
If those who prophesied, cast out demons, and did great exploits will not get to heaven, then who will? The possession of spiritual gifts is not an indication of a relationship with God. It’s not how much we want to do for God but how much God wills to do in, with, and through a life that’s wholly surrendered to Him. Our good works will not get us a place in heaven. We have been saved to serve but God isn’t interested in any service from us if our hands and our hearts are defiled with sin. What a tragedy to discover that all the investment of our time, effort, and resources didn’t count for eternity.
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 AMP.
If our aim is to enjoy the evil pleasures of the unsaved world, we cannot also be a friend of God – James 4.4. A sinner who enjoys the pleasures of sin and has rejected God’s offer of salvation knows they won’t get into heaven but many who claim to be Christians are involved and engrossed in sin but hope they will get past the gates of heaven will be sorely disappointed. And it’s easy to exonerate ourselves that we don’t commit certain sins but knowing what to do and not doing it is also a sin.
And the list is endless of the ungodly, profane, and immoral things we get involved with. And it doesn’t matter if it has become commonplace in our culture or no one got hurt or we got away with the consequences, if whatever we do doesn’t bring God glory, it is a sin. Sadly, our churches are full of people who have never surrendered their lives to the Lord nor understand the cost of discipleship let alone have made a decision to follow Jesus. Have you decided to follow Jesus? Then, it’s the cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back.
Depending on who you speak to, the definitions of sin and iniquity will be different. If we will walk with God and be led by His Spirit, we can’t keep up with the ever-changing standards of our societies and cultures. The times may have changed but God’s standards haven’t. Jesus says our good works will not earn us a place in heaven if we have been engrossed and enjoying so much iniquity.
Were these people surprised to hear what Jesus said? Didn’t they know all along that they were knee-deep in sin? And many of us continue to attend churches where topics such as sin, holiness, sanctification, and judgement are no longer preached. We’ve been told to be tolerant while ungodliness thrives. Ephesians 5:21-23 and Mark 7:21-23 have a long list of sins that those who profess to love and follow Jesus shouldn’t be involved in.
The enemy won’t tempt us with things and people we don’t like but with what we think we can’t do without. If our hands, eyes, or feet will cause us to sin, it’s time we plucked or cut it off, it’s better to be in heaven with one of those than in hell with both. Obviously, Jesus isn’t referring to the physical amputation of these body parts but the intentional and consistent effort that’s required to stay away from anyone or anything that will draw us away from the Lord.
When Jesus says ‘I never knew you’, this doesn’t imply that He didn’t know that they existed but that they had no personal and intimate relationship with Him. It’s one thing to claim to know God but does God know you as one of His? Let’s not hop around town telling anyone that we fear God if we aren’t consistently and intentionally departing from iniquity. No one is perfect and even those who have surrendered their hearts to the Lord will sin, but this group of people Jesus refers to were engrossed and enjoying sin.
Praying and fasting are great spiritual disciplines against temptations, but God wants us getting off our knees and taking action to stay away from the appearance, the lure, and the pleasures of sin. There is no middle ground, no sitting on the sidelines, no halting between two opinions. We cannot serve God in public while enjoying the pleasures of sin in secret. Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24.15.