Matthew 7: 21-27
21-23 “Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me.
What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills.
I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’
And do you know what I am going to say?
"You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
24-25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living.
They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26-27 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”
wow.....
I don't know about you....
but this one hurt....
bad.
Talk about Conviction.
We were told at our church this weekend, and again at life group, to read this passage as it implies to marriage, basing it on a firm foundation.
However, I received much more than marriage advice from this passage.
Bottom Line. Giving my entire life to God is scary.
What if I am not strong enough to be obedient all the time?
Who and what am I giving up if I am? Will I be happy?
God says in Matthew, that there is not a secret password that will get you into heaven. Being the A student with all the answers and bribing the teacher to benefit yourself, doesn't work.
God sees through all of that. He is looking for doers. People strong enough to give up their materialistic goals and dreams and focus on his work.
He says that there will be many, at end time, waiting to cash their ticket into heaven, and that we will be surprised when he says "you've missed the boat".
I don't want to miss the boat.
It's time to quit playing and get to work.
If you haven't found a church, find one to get involved in.
You may be the youth director, nursery staff, or member they have been waiting for.
If you haven't joined a life group/bible study, find one to get involved in. You may be what brings 5-10 people into salvation.
If you haven't found someone to minister to, find one. You might just save their life.
The life of one is just as important as the life of many. Not boastful, but anonymous, so that God gets the glory and we get our rewards in heaven.
It's time to step up and get busy. So when we present our ticket...God says, well done my good and faithful servant, lets go home.
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