Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:21
There are many who profess to know Christ, working true miracles by His power and speaking truth in His name, that will come to find that they were never known by Him because they practiced lawlessness, disobedience, sin. These people have the “appearance of godliness, but deny the power”, hoping to claim the promise without any effort to please the One who promises. Satan quoted scripture accurately but with wicked intentions, Judas worked miracles under the power of Christ but later betrayed Him for gain. Balaam prophesied the true words of God but had a wicked heart.
There are many like the rich young ruler, who keep many of the Lord’s commandments but still cling to the world with one hand, refusing to give up that one thing they love to gain eternal life. Their hearts are not truly submitted, they are willing to run the race but unwilling to do what is necessary to cross the finish line. The path to heaven is narrow and afflicted, few will find it (Mat. 7:14).
Many live each day without care for eternity until the very end, but I tell you to focus on eternity now and ask the Lord each day what needs to be done to obtain it. Seek the Lord each day and ask Him what needs to be done in order for you to stand guiltless and unashamed before the throne. Discipline yourself harshly now, so that on that day you will not be condemned by your lack thereof. Have you accepted Christ? Do you live each day diligently seeking His will, or your own? Consider the words of Paul:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
II Timothy 4:7-8
#CalledtoBattle
