Those were the days. In our pretend world, we were mighty warriors, but in reality we were just young boys completely dependent on our families for love, shelter and sustenance. We would have probably scattered at the first sign of real danger.
It's great to pretend as a child, but what about when you become an adult? How many times do we "pretend" to be something we are not? The pressures of the world crowd, mold and influence each of us, but how often are we truly what we claim to be?
I was listening to a sermon the other day. The preacher was expounding Matthew 7:21-23. Here Jesus is addressing those who "pretend" to be one of his followers. "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!" This has always made me take a second look. Here are some thoughts I had today.
Imagine the day when you stand before Christ. You call to him, "Lord! Lord!", but he doesn't recognize you. Gripped by the icy fingers of panic, you try to get him to recall all you did in his name. Great things. Mighty things. Yet, he still does not recognize you. As reality sets in you recognize that all of your striving, all of your good works, all of the things you held dear were ultimately worthless. Imagine the pain of a wasted life and a damned eternity.
Martin Luther said, "We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone." This is tricky to consider. What about the "sinner's prayer"? Are people really saved by a specially structured prayer and walking to the front of a congregation? Or, is salvation a true recognition of our sunken condition and a reaching out in faith to the only one who can save us? Is there a difference? I think so.
The only true faith is the faith that is reflected in the behavior of the faithful. It only makes sense that if we truly believe something to be true, it will impact our behavior. It's a bit like driving your car over a bridge. You believe the bridge was solidly constructed, that it has been regularly inspected and cars drive across it every day. Knowing that; having faith in that; you drive across. You would most likely never do that, however, if you believed otherwise. Your faith demands behavioral change. James agrees when he says, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?' (James 2:14 NKJV)
So, what about those that Jesus rejected? They did things right didn't they? They cast out demons, prophesied and performed wonders in his name. If those things don't count, what chance do I have to be saved? What is saving faith? Just before Jesus' comments about the pretenders, he gave a complete sermon, full of practical application for a faith filled life. He proclaimed the blessedness of the humble attitudes of his disciples. He proclaimed the necessity of purity in thought as well as in deed. He proclaimed the need for honesty and trustworthiness; of gentleness, forgiveness, love and prayer.
It makes me wonder how often people deceive themselves, into thinking they are doing God's will by being active. Can a person be blinded from the truth by attending church on Sundays, listening to the right music, voting conservative and putting a Christian fish on their car? All of these things can be done with no true renewal.
I urge everyone who reads this to examine themselves. Read Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Meditate on Christ's words and seek to live them daily. Become a disciple of Christ and not simply a church attender. In doing so you will experience a changed life today and eternity with Christ in glory.
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