The Day of Judgement will surprise many people! Lip service does not impress God.
Matthew 7:21 (KJV)
21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
A superficial religion might satisfy the casual observer, but Jesus demands obedience from the inside out. David says:
Psalm 51:6 (NIV)
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
God’s desire is that in the innermost places, under the surface, in your heart, in your mind that is where your will to follow will be found.
Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV)
10“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Do your actions live up to your words?
Matthew 7:22-23 (KJV)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus will expose those that give lip service and do not have a personal relationship with him. “In that day” The day of Judgement God will settle all accounts, judging sin and rewarding faithful obedience. Many may feel that just being a good person, saying religious things, going to church once in a while, that God will reward them.
That is not what God wants!
Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV)
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
True Christians not only hear but put into practice the words of Jesus. Jesus explains by acting on His words one is found to be wise, and one that builds upon the Rock is not a phony, not superficial in their faith. Is your faith put into practice? Would Jesus consider you to be wise? Not everyone who talks about heaven is fit for God’s Kingdom! Jesus is more concerned about our walk than our talk.
We begin our walk with Christ full of excitement. Fully intending to do whatever it takes to make it all the way. But after a while, Christianity becomes too daily. It’s the same thing over and over again. The same prayers, the same worship, the same Bible stories; we want to follow Jesus but we begin to drift. We get side tracked, or never on track at all. The excitement cools, our dedication weakens, we begin to neglect prayer and study and church. (Did you realize there are 3 gatherings of the Lord’s people a week?) Before we know it, our faith is weak, perhaps even dead. What then . . . ?
Your house (which stands for your life) will withstand the storms of life, ONLY if you do what is right and not just talk about it or know about it. Some people wonder if they are a good Christian, if that is you start acting like one. Some jabber about faith, but faith must be shown by faithful living, and that’s how others see who we are.
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Most people don’t deliberately seek to build on an inferior foundation, instead they just don’t think about their life’s purpose. Many people are headed for destruction not out of stubbornness but out of thoughtlessness. I have heard the Gospel, but I’m not ready to obey the Gospel. Not being ready is being lost! It’s being ready to disobey!
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Do you believe that Jesus was a propitiation for our sins?
Have you repented of your sins and been washed in the blood of the lamb?
Matthew 7:26-27 (NIV)
26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Are you wise or foolish? Chart
Wise or Foolish
Hear and Act or Hear and ignore
Prepared or Unprepared
Walk the walk or Talk the talk
Faithful or Unfaithful
Obedient or Disobedient
Life built on rock (Jesus) or Life built on sand (Satan)
God desires true happiness for us.
Revelation 22:12-14 (NIV)
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
Jesus says there will be rewards for those who are wise. Blessed are you who obey His commandments. These are those that are in the blood of the lamb and wash their robes from the filth of the world (Sin). By the blood of Jesus we are loosed from our sins and purchased unto God.
Revelation 22:15-16 (NIV)
15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Verse 15 describes the character traits that that will be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. They walk in the darkness, they lie to themselves, to others and mostly to God!
1 John 1:5-6 (NIV)
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:12 (NIV)
12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
We must act out of love and if we love the truth we will seek it and walk in it! If we love a lie we have no trouble finding it and it will take hold of our lives. Each person walks after that which he loves!
An old American Indian tale recounts the story of a chief who was telling a gathering of young braves about the struggle within. "It is like two dogs fighting inside of us," the chief told them. "There is one good dog who wants to do the right and the other dog always wants to do the wrong. Sometimes the good dog seems stronger and is winning the fight. But sometimes the bad dog is stronger and wrong is winning the fight."
"Who is going to win in the end?" a young brave asks. The chief answered "The one you feed."
God will exclude from Heaven those who live a lie, those that talk the talk but do not walk the walk, and those who are living in darkness, unfaithful, disobedient not willing to do what they know is right. Jesus is calling many in the world today to break the pattern of a loose religion and to build their lives upon a solid foundation- Jesus Christ.
A lady told of taking her grandsons ages four and six to spend the day at Disneyland. During the course of the day she bought each of them a little Flag. On several occasions they stopped to watch the marching band of toy soldiers and each time the boys would be spellbound as the band marched by. All at once the grandmother noticed that the 4 year old was gone. She searched all around calling his name while making her way through the crowd. As she sat down to catch her breath and try to determine what to do she looked up and saw the band of toy soldiers, and there at the end of it was her grandson smiling, merrily waving his little flag unaware that he was lost.
How it is like the world going on its merry way unaware of a loving father’s concern for its lostness. Someday the band will stop playing and then and only then will those outside of Christ realize that they are lost.
Revelation 22:17 (NIV)
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Will you accept the offer?
