“Not every one 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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” —Matthew 7:21-23
WHAT a terrible awakening it will be for those who are going on in this life thinking all is well withthem, and then in that day as they stand before the Lord of Glory hear these words, “I never knew you.” Words cannot describe the anguish of soul as that sentence is passed upon them, and added to it will be—“Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Friend, take notice that it does not say a few, but “MANY will say to Me in that day.” Are you among the many? Are you one of those that sit in a church pew thinking `all is well,' yet if God should say: “Cut him [or her] off,” you would drop from that pew into hell? “Many” have done this. Are you teaching a Sunday School class and not even saved yourself? Have you the responsibility for the eternal welfare of men and women who are looking to you to guide them? If so, you're one of those that God speaks of—“the blind leading the blind.” Are you a hireling or a shepherd? Are you depending upon some religious experience to get you to heaven, or some good deed you have done or are doing? What proof have you that you are going to heaven and not to hell?
It's time to awaken and think about these things. It's time to do some soul searching. God says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (II Cor 13:5). God requires that we make our “calling
and election sure” (II Peter 1:10).
Let us not forget many are on the broad way that leads to destruction, but only a few find the narrow way that leads to eternal life. That is the reason God says, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it” (Heb 4:1). If your aim is heaven and you come short of it, nothing remains but a lost eternity. If you are being deceived by any of the many ways Satan has for destroying the soul, and you know it not or care not, then in that day when the righteous Judge
shall appear to try the hearts of men your cry for all eternity will be too late, too late! With all urgency I say again, Be Sure. There is no sacrifice too great on your part that you might know, beyond a doubt, whether your sins are forgiven and your destiny heaven.
What are some of the marks of eternal life? God says we must be born again. What does this new birth mean? We read, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor 5:17). Do you know what this means in your life? “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments , is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (I John 2:4). Are not these words to think upon? “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes” (I John 2:11). Are you walking in darkness or light? God is light. If we are doing the will of God, we will be walking in the light as He is in the light and not as one blind walking in darkness. “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (I John 2:17). Is not this worth striving for? Do we not read—“He that committeth sin is of the devil” (I John 3:8). “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (I John 4:8). “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” What are your fruits? “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Matt 7:16-20). What do you know about “the fruit of the Spirit...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Gal 5:22,23)?
It is necessary that we prove ourselves in the light of God's Word. May I urge again no matter who you are, where you are, what church you belong to, what so-called Christian work you are doing, whether white or black, young or old, whether Protestant, Catholic, Jewish or any other faith, Be Sure . Remember, there is only one God, one Christ, and one way of salvation. “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (I Peter 4:18). “This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth andhonoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me” (Matt 15:8). “Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matt 15:13).
Time is but a short space, eternity is immeasurable. Heaven will never cease to exist, neither will hell. If you are one of His, prove it. God hates lukewarmness. His desire is determined men and women grounded in the truth, standing firm upon the living Word, not carried about by every wind of doctrine, but established upon the rock Christ Jesus. What a sad condition exists today when one sees little difference between those who profess Christ and those of the world. The world, the flesh, and the devil are enemies of the child of God. We read that even Satan is changed into an angel of light. Is it any wonder we need to continually examine ourselves, that we might Be Sure of our salvation?
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Chapel Library: Our purpose is to humble the pride of man, exalt the grace of God in salvation, and promote real holiness in heart and life by distributing messages from Spurgeon, Bonar, Ryle, Pink, and the Puritans to churches, missions, schools, prisons, and individuals. Available online worldwide and sending in print to more than 75 countries.
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