The Eternal Shock
One of the most terrifying passages in the Bible is found in Matthew 7:21-23. Anyone who calls themselves a Christian needs to stop and think about these words very carefully.
“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. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:21-23
Notice carefully: Jesus is not talking about atheists or people who don't believe in God. He is talking about people who loudly claimed to follow Christ. Not only did they use His name, but they also did mighty things in ministry. They cast out demons, prophesied, and performed miracles.
If we saw someone doing these things in a church today, what would we say? We would say, “Wow, that is a powerful man of God! The anointing is really on him”. And how would that person view themselves? They would think, “God has really blessed me; His power is working through me.”
But on the last day, these highly respected people will receive an
eternal shock.
Tricked by Outward Power
Jesus points out that it won't just be a few people caught in this trap. He says MANY will come to Him with this excuse. These are people who hid behind their spiritual gifts and public works while ignoring their private life. The most shocking part of Jesus' response is what He doesn't say. He does not say, “I used to know you, but you backslid”. He says, “I NEVER knew you”.
This means they were never actually saved. Their hearts were never changed, and they never had the Holy Spirit. But because they could perform miracles, they fooled themselves into thinking they would be the first ones welcomed into heaven.
Modern-Day Pharisees
This warning is not just for miracle workers. It applies to anyone who thinks obeying outward rules can replace a changed heart. On judgment day, many people will bring a different kind of checklist to God:
- Lord, I built many churches for You.
- Lord, I brought many souls to church.
- Lord I gave a lot of money to support your work.
- Lord, we followed all the strict rules: we covered our hair, we didn't use musical instruments, we never clapped, and we didn't join worldly church programs.
And yet, the Lord will still tell them, “I never knew you”.
We have many modern-day Pharisees sitting in churches today who think they are going to heaven simply because they keep external regulations. But they completely ignore their inner life. In secret, their hearts are full of bitterness, envy, anger, division, and lust.
They love money and crave the praise of men, but they never desire passionately for inner transformation. The devil has deceived them into thinking that God only judges “external good works”. But the Bible says something very different.
“...in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel”. Romans 2:16
God does not look at outward appearances. He judges the secrets of the heart; man’s strongest desires and thoughts that no human saw. That exactly what God will judge!!
Hiding Behind Doctrine
Finally, this eternal shock is waiting for those who use true doctrines to cover up their sins. They say: “My salvation is eternally secured in Christ; I can never lose it”. Now, this statement true. The salvation of God’s chosen people is totally secure; nothing can take them out of His hand. John 10:28, Philippians 1:6, Jude 1.
But these people forget one major thing: a person who is truly saved cannot live comfortably in sin.
“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him...” 1 John 3:9
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The Holy Spirit that the Father gives to His people wrought in them a tremendous passion for righteousness and hatred for sin. Those who use this divine truth as an excuse to keep sinning will stand before Christ and say, “Lord, we were saved, and Your Word said we couldn't lose it!”
And the King will reply, “Depart from Me, I never knew you”. They were never saved in the first place, for if they were, their nature would have revolted against the sin that they wallowed in.
The Call to Wake Up
Matthew 7 is a serious warning. It is a wakeup call to anyone hiding behind public ministry, church rules, or correct theology while living a dirty secret life. God is not looking for a superficial coat of religious paint. He wants real, inward righteousness that stands firm even when no one is watching.
Let us stop measuring ourselves by the wrong standards. Examine your heart. Guard your secret life.
May God help us to see ourselves exactly as He sees us.
For more lessons on Christian living and pleasing God, check out my other articles on medium:
What Did Jesus Mean By “ Your Righteousness Must Exceed The Pharisees?”
Backbiting: The Hidden Poison in Christian Fellowship
God Disciplines Those He Loves: What Does It Really Mean?
Walking In a Victorious Life Over Sin
What Did Paul mean When He Said, “Whoever Believes in Him Will Not Be Put To Shame?”
What Does It Mean to Worship God in Spirit and Truth?
Anger: A deadly Poison Many Christians Ignore
The First Congregation of a Christian Wife
What Does it Really Mean to Fear God?
The Prayer That Pleases the Heart of the Father
Romans 7 and Romans 8 Believer
Lust, Masturbation and Pornography: The Secret Soul Destroyers
The Two Scriptures That Transformed My Life
The Church’s Crises: Entertainment or Legalism? Neither is the Answer
