Sep 20

What terrifying words to hear from the lips of Jesus, the judge of all mankind: "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Mt. 7:23).

Jesus says this in the final judgment, so when he says that those whom he never knew must go away from him, he means that they will be apart from him forever, in hell.

Another terrifying aspect of this judgment is that he says this to those who claimed to know him. The verses preceding this verse describe people who claimed to be speaking on behalf of Jesus and who did mighty miracles in his name. Yet he calls them evildoers!

How could people be so deceived that they think they are very close to God and yet God pronounces them evildoers? They did not know God as well as they thought; God did not know them at all. There is great confusion here about the relationship.

But Jesus says that on that day of judgment he will "tell them plainly." What they did not see or understand they will see all too clearly at the moment of judgment.

How vitally important, then, it is to let Jesus know us now, to open our hearts to him. If we do not, then despite all our so-called service for him, in the end we will be judged as an evildoer and he will have to say to us, "Depart from me, for I never knew you."

Scripture for today: Matthew 7:15-23
Thought for today: Working of miracles is no proof that one knows God or that he knows the worker.
Prayer for today: Lord, the only miracle I want is for you to change my heart into one that loves you above all else. Then work other miracles through me as you see fit, so that others may know you as well.

SEP 20