Imagine, for a moment what it would be like to die and open your eyes in hell. Even more terrifying is it you had spent your life thinking you were a good person doing all the ‘right’ things.
“Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.” – Matthew 7:21-23
The three verses in the book of Matthew are probably some of the most troubling verses to me. They travel me because they described many followers of Christ, who at face value, assuming they doing the right things, and the death, they are refused entrance into the eternal rewards of the righteous.
Multitude of church today are blessed with tremendous anointing to move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. During church services, prophecies, words of wisdom, or words of knowledge seem to just fall out of them (…have we not prophesied in your name?).
Many have shouldn’t base your faith with some of the most wicked spirits that hell can produce, casting them out of their victims, sending them back limping back to the abyss (…and in your name cast out demons?).
Your others, how to build large and far reaching ministries and mega churches. They have fed the poor, supplied relief and funds to Third World countries. They have seen multitudes come to Jesus, and receive salvation and physical healing (…and in your name do mighty works?). As we stand before the Lord of Lords expecting to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:21). His words will ring in their ears throughout eternity. “ I never knew you depart from me you that work iniquity.”
These groups will also include Sunday school, teachers, pastors, evangelists, song leaders, choir members, and musicians may also be in these numbers, along with elders, deacons, and stewards. From the most influential member and the church to the least, maybe run the risk of being rejected entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
How could this happen? It seems impossible that people with ministries, that we have judged as successful and blessed, could fall into such a spiritual wasteland. But nonetheless, it could happen.
One of the biggest mistakes we make when reading our Bibles is that too often we use our denominational doctrines or religious traditions as our standard for scriptural interpretation. This is backwards theology. We must live scripture, in context, interpret our living. When we allow doctrine or traditions to interpret scripture, we run the risk , like the Pharisees, of falling into religious tradition.
It has been my experience that religious peoples spiritual lives are usually centered around doctrinal traditions, rather than the Word, in it’s entirety. It is taken out of context to form a certain view or lifestyle.
Sometimes, when I talk to people about Christ the Conversation end with a debate. “Do you believe once saved, always saved? Or does your church speak in tongues?” The sad fact is, they don’t want to know the answer from God‘s Word, they only want to argue doctrine. When we were just people witness, for the most part, they will use the name of Jesus, only to create another, convert to their doctrine or their religious philosophy. Many times they do more harm to the kingdom of God then they do good. They paraphrase God’s Word and don’t involve the truths in the Bible.
A perfect example is myself, I remember the Mormon church coming to my house and telling my parents that it was God’s will that my brother died on a church outing. For many years I believe that was true. I hated God for every He done in my life, the abuse, my brother drowning… I was on my way to hell because I thought God was horrible, and despiteful.
I still would be lost and on my way to hell. That is why Jesus told the Pharisees, woe unto you, scribes, and Pharisees, hypocrites for you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him two fold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Matthew 23:15).
I thank God every day He sent me to the church I go to now. He actually saved me through my children. You may think that cannot be possible, but my children got saved before I did. They are the ones who got me going to the church I go to now. They were raised Catholic, but began going to a protestant church, when we stopped going to the Catholic Church. Thank God that I have a holy scripture, Bible believing pastor that I can call anytime or day or night for anything. And that I am glad to call a friend as well.
God separated me. Because he love me and shit his son on the cross to bear penalty of death for my sins. And if I repented and chose to follow, Jesus as Lord any debt would be canceled and I would be made righteous.
I was lost and suffering when God separated me for him. Now I am found and full of joy.
From Pity to Praise 