Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?”And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.”
— MATTHEW 7:22-23 —
Ramon Covarrubias: TMAI Headquarters | USA
In these verses, we find a very serious warning. Jesus expresses that many will approach Him “on that day” with full confidence of their right to enter into the kingdom of God. However, many will face a frightful and unexpected reality—being rejected by the Lord. Jesus wants to make His hearers aware of the danger of empty words. Among those who listened to His sermons were many who invoked His name without any intention of obeying him. Only those who genuinely know the Lord and follow Him in humble obedience can be confident that Jesus will allow them to enter into His kingdom “on that day.” They pro-fessed Him with their mouths, but their deeds denied Him. Surely, they claimed to perform “in His name” (prophesying, casting out demons, and working miracles). But, to these false followers, Jesus will declare that He never knew them, and He will order them to depart from His presence as true evildoers. In my thirteen years of pastoral ministry, I have come across countless people who claim to have fellowship with the Lord, yet deny Him with their deeds. These people place unwarranted trust in their own works, their use of the Lord’s name, and their involvement in church activities. Their words are empty, however, as they live in blatant disobedience to the Lord. Dear reader, live your life in light of this great warning! Be certain that your confidence is not in empty words, as those whom Jesus confronted. Only those who genuinely know the Lord and follow Him in humble obedience can be confident that Jesus will allow them to enter into His kingdom “on that day.”
