Sobering and Frightening

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Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.  On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, "We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles."  But I will tell them, "I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!"

Matthew 7:21-23

These three verses in the Sermon on the Mount are perhaps the most sobering and even frightening words in all the Bible!  They clearly say that you can call Jesus "Lord," preach in His name, cast out demons in His name and even work "many miracles," and still be rejected by Him at the day of judgment!  

Don't judge the authenticity of your walk with Jesus by the miracles that occur when you call on Him!  He will honor His Name regardless of who speaks the Word of His Holy Name!  You can even preach in His Name, cast out demons, and work "many miracles" in His Name and still be rejected by Him in the End!

We are not judged by whether or not there is power in invoking the Name of Jesus!  The Name of Jesus is and has always been powerful.  We are judged by whether or not we have a relationship with Jesus and are obedient to the Father!  It is the blood of Jesus that makes us right with God, not the effectiveness of our "ministry" here on earth!

This also means that we should not judge the message by the life of the messenger!  The accuracy of the Gospel message that is delivered to the lost and dying world has nothing to do with the personal purity of the one delivering it!  Don't reject the Gospel because the preacher is not perfect!  

Also don't accept the message of a man who seems to be morally upright, without checking with God's Word to make sure the message is true!

"Lord Jesus, I know that I stand justified before the Father because of Your blood and not because of anything I do.  Knowing You is the only thing I need on this earth and forever.  Praise Your Holy Name now and always!  Amen."