KNOCK KNOCK. Who's There??

 

I want to start out with a little experiment. It's an experiment to see what answers you might give to three things I will ask.  And though I'm pretty sure what your answers will be, my questions and your responses are to make a point regarding this blog. So let's get started. 

Question #1: If a stranger was knocking at the front door of your home claiming he was your brother and wanted to come inside your home, would you open the door and let him in? 

Question #2: What if this stranger standing outside your door had a credit card with your name on it and told you he had been buying lots of things with it. And that by your good name he had the ability to get anything he wanted. Would you then believe he was related to you because he had a credit card with your name on it? 

Question #3: Last one. What if this same man continued telling you all the good things he had done with the credit card bearing your name and began begging you to please accept him as a part of your family because all the things he had done left a really good impression of YOU to others?  Would any of the three things I just mentioned make you want to open the door to your home and welcome him as a part of your family? 

I'm sure your answers were no.  I believe that despite the fact all the good he was able to do with the credit card in your name, you would still see him as a phony and a fraud.  Just because this man used your name for good or for gain does not make him a part of your family at all! Let's look at scripture. Matthew 7: 21-23 KJV "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.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I NEVER knew you. Away from me." 

 

 

For the sake of understanding the credit card illustration, I will compare The Word of God to the credit card in my example as an analogy.  On that credit card, a name is written --- the Name Jesus. A Christian possessing that 'card ' therefore, according to the scripture in Matthew 7 can:  prophecy, can perform miracles, and even cast out demons.  And they can do so not because they themselves possess any power, not because they are better than any other sinner saved by grace, but because THE NAME OF JESUS IS THE POWER, like the same clout a credit card carries.   Jesus said IN MY NAME shall they cast out demons (Mark 16:17).  In my example then, without the credit card bearing your name, the guy on your porch could not have done anything on his own because he had no credit, no clout.  The "power" given to him (if you will), was because of your name on that card!  But hear this, even though the man may appear to be someone special because he carried a credit card, still, he was a fraud.  He was just using your name. He was not, nor would he ever be related to you. There was no relationship to connect the two of you.

Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word 'relationship' as "the state of being related; kinship." Much in the same way many people are professing themselves to be Christians, using the Name of Jesus to do great things, yet have no relationship with Jesus at all. THESE ARE THEY who will stand before the door wanting to enter heaven, and though they did things in Jesus' Name what did Jesus respond?  "I NEVER knew you." How could Jesus say these things if those knocking were able to do miracles because the Name of Jesus has power and it comes from God... HE is the very Word of God! In reality, THERE MUST NOT HAVE BEEN A RELATIONSHIP between those knocking to get in heaven's door and Jesus! They never became a part of His family because they were never convicted of their sin, they never truly repented, they never turned from their ways, nor desired righteousness that comes from doing God's will.  Matthew 7 verses 21-23 speaks plainly about those who can and will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, "but only those who do the will of my Father which is in heaven" will enter. If you know a few scriptures, go to church each week, listen to Christian radio, read your Bible now and again, or even if you use the power of His Word to prophecy or cast out demons but have no personal relationship with Him, how can you expect Him to know you as a part of His family? He's not going to open the door to anyone outside His family! Would you open your door?? "I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine" (John 10:14).  Notice the wording?  I KNOW my sheep. That's a relationship! He told those knocking on the door I NEVER KNEW YOU, meaning they had no relationship.

 

 

Growing up, were you taught the people knocking outside the door are unbelievers who wanted to enter heaven? Read the scriptures closely.  Those knocking to get in said with their own mouths and testified they had done great things ... prophesied and cast out demons IN HIS NAME (Jesus' Name).  Have you not read that Satan cannot cast out Satan lest his kingdom is divided? ..... Matthew 12:26 "If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself, how then shall his kingdom stand?"  These were not unbelievers, demons, devils, sinners, or wayward people outside the door!  These were people claiming and PROFESSING to be Christians -- followers of Jesus. Why? They were using the Name of Jesus, but they did not have a personal relationship with Him.  This is why Jesus said, I NEVER knew you DEPART FROM ME YOU WORKERS OF INIQUITY!  You can use the Name of Jesus (it has power), you can say you follow Him (you go to church every week), you can claim you are a good Christian, but UNLESS AND UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY DO YOUR FATHER'S WILL, you are a phony and a fraud when it comes to the faith and you have no part in His family.  Do you say you don't know what God's will is?  If you don't, then you probably aren't doing it either. It's not a matter of trying to figure out what it is because God already told us what His will is for us.  It's in the scriptures! You can find it in Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what that good, acceptable, and perfect WILL OF GOD (is)." Then, 1 Thessalonians 3-5 says, "FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication: that every one of you knows how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; not in the lust of concupiscence (Colossians 3:5-6), even as the Gentiles do who KNOW NOT God." Did you catch that? WHO KNOW NOT GOD. We are to be transformed from workers of iniquity to workers of faith and belief. To know God is to love Him as your Father (relationship), and it is to obey Him by transforming your mind (you do this with His Word that changes you from the inside out), to possess your body in sanctification and honor and present it holy unto God just as an earthly bride offers her body to her husband.  This is the "relationship" He desires of you.  It is a spiritual marriage.  You take His Name as a bride takes her husband's name.  You become a part of Him ---> family ---> relationship. ADOPTION.

 

 

Finally, those knocking I referred to in Matthew 7 can be compared to the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22, which describes this church as the "lukewarm" church. Jesus condemns them for their spiritual apathy.  They did not openly reject Christ but neither did they have authentic zeal or love for Him or The Word! They professed to know Christ, but they had no place in their hearts -- no relationship.  How many people do you know just like this?  Jesus said there are MANY of them: "Many shall say to me in that day... Lord, Lord".  CALLING Him your Lord and being in a relationship AS YOUR LORD are two entirely different things! I cannot imagine what sorrow will consume people when being turned away at the door of heaven despite the fact they confess they never did anything bad in their life, went to church faithfully every Sunday, gave their time and money to missions, tithed every time the plate was passed, led adult bible studies, etc.  And though there is definitely nothing wrong in doing these things,  we are called to servanthood as per Christ's example. But if you have no relationship with Jesus and are just going through the motions, you are none of His! You will not enter into heaven according to Matthew 7:21-23 despite doing marvelous things, prophesying in His Name, or even casting out demons (even Satan knows scriptures and can bring fire down out of heaven in the sight of men). Accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior goes far beyond just words if you never allow Him into your heart and by the power of His Spirit allow Him to change you from the inside out.  I haven't written this blog to sound unkind or to be critical of the good deeds done by anyone. I wrote it because GOD'S WORD is specific in its warning to even the noblest and generous people that profess Christianity. 

Until He Comes,

-Pat-