Jump Start # 1972

Matthew 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

More thoughts on the Texas church shooting. If one stands in the shoes of an atheist, what makes the mass murder in the Texas church house wrong? This opens a much deeper thought for us and it helps us to understand why people think the way they do.

The first answer as to why shooting other people is wrong, is because it’s against the law. It’s against the law to kill people. So, in the eyes of the atheist, wrong is determined by society or a government. Because our laws prohibit killing others, then it is wrong. Be careful with that statement. It must be qualified. Our laws allow the killing of the unborn, called an abortion. Now, don’t go dumb and say, the unborn is a part of the mother’s body, like her gallbladder. The unborn can be a different sex, different blood type, different eye color and different hair color and you’d still say, it’s just like a gallbladder? I had my gallbladder taken out. I didn’t bring it home. No one threw me a gallbladder shower like they do a “baby” shower. Truth is, folks do not think abortion is wrong, because society and our laws allow it.

Go even further with this. If someone breaks into my home, the laws allow me to defend myself, including even shooting the person who broke in. If that person dies, I have not broken any laws. The government allows me to kill in that sense. Even in the Texas shooting, a neighbor shot the shooter as he was leaving the church house. The neighbor who shot him is being called a hero. The military and the police are allowed to shoot and even kill under certain guidelines. So, if killing another is wrong because society or the government says so, what happens if a society or government passes laws to put to death those in nursing homes? They are old. They are no longer productive. They costs a lot of money. If the laws changed, I guess we would have to say it’s ok, when standing in the shoes of an atheist.

This is why same-sex marriage has become acceptable. Laws changed and the government determines right and wrong. Decades ago, saying the “D” word was censored out of movies. Gone with the Wind, was the first to push that envelop. Now, there are commercials that use that word and it’s part of mainstream language. Why is it no longer wrong? Society, laws, government changes.

Here’s the point: without God as an anchor in our life, right and wrong always changes. There is never a time to say that a certain behavior is absolutely wrong. As society becomes comfortable with wrong and accepts wrong, wrong eventually becomes right.

This brings us to the important question, who determines what is right or wrong? Religiously, we could ask, ‘who determines what is sin?’ Because I call something ‘sin,’ does that mean it is? We’ve lived with little sins and big sins. We hear of white lies and black lies. Some classify sins as mortal and venial. Who determines what is right or wrong? The government? Society? The church? You? Me? Why is shooting people in a church building wrong? Because I think so? Because you think so? Because there are laws? If the laws changed, then would it be right?

Right and wrong is determined by God. This is why when God is removed from our hearts and from society, then man determines what is right and wrong. Corrupt and wicked men in power can pass laws that make wrong right. Sin is not determined by the church. It is not determined by man. Sin is a violation of God’s law. Our passage today illustrates this. Rather than doing the will of God, these people were doing what they wanted to do. Jesus said that their actions were “lawlessness.” That means, without law. They were acting as if they could do as they pleased. What they did seems not only innocent, but good and even something that we’d think God would like. They were prophesying in Jesus’ name. That sounds good. They were casting out demons. Jesus did that. They were performing miracles in the name of Jesus. How could any of that be wrong? It wasn’t the will of God. It was lawlessness. God hasn’t opened the door to allow us to do whatever we want. Worship is never “surprise Me” hour. God authorizes and we follow. We are to be obedient to God.

What makes the shooting in Texas wrong? It’s a violation of God’s law. What makes abortion wrong? It’s a violation of God’s law. What makes same-sex marriage wrong? It’s a violation of God’s law. Some of these things may be approved by the government. That doesn’t mean that God approves of it.

In Acts 5, when Peter was brought before the city officials for violating their law about preaching Jesus, Peter replied, “We must obey God rather than man.” When God’s law and man’s law move in different directions, we must follow God. When man’s law says certain wrong things are now right, we must follow God.

With the removal of God from society, we follow the whims of laws that are constantly changing. Our world is violent, mean and selfish. This isn’t the result of following God. This is the fruit of man trying to make the rules. It’s the blind leading the blind. A Hitler, with the backing of his government, could determine that certain people should not exist any longer. The Hitler story is not too much different from the story of Esther in which a government was going to eliminate the Jews. This story is not much different than a Pharaoh who decided that Hebrew baby boys should not live. This is not much different from a Herod who decided that boys around two years old ought to be put to death. This is the fruit of a government, the laws, determining right and wrong.

It is God who determines what is right and what is wrong. It is God, who through His grace, can call us righteous, which means being right. God can justify us, which means not guilty. God can cleanse us.

Sad and tragic events, such as this shooting in Texas, can make us look deep within and help us to see lessons that can change our lives. We all need to be walking with God. We need to follow God. Right and wrong is set by God. Life is precious. It is just a vapor as James tells us. Each day is a gift. We need to use it rightly. We need to glorify God with it. We need to be His instruments to help others.

Roger

Jump Start # 1937

Matthew 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

You see it all the time. There are lists made up of the best and the worst. The best songs of the decade, or, the worst movies of all time. The best catches of the NFL. The worst political blunders of all time. These things dominate the web. There are lists for everything. I often don’t agree with the choices on these lists. They are made up by the people who are promoting them. It’s often based upon their opinion or a small sampling of suggestions by others. Because someone says, ‘Here are the top ten worst things you can spend your money on,’ doesn’t mean it’s true.

Now, having said all of this, I came across an old sermon of mine the other day, “The Worst Words in the Bible.” It’s an old sermon. I don’t know when I preached it. I don’t know where I got that title from. It was based upon our passage today. Three simple thoughts. I will share them with you.

1. It’s the worst words because of when they are said. The previous verse says, “Many will say to Me on that day…” On what day? Not just any day. Not just some day. “That day.” That day, was the last day, the day of judgment. This is what is being discussed here. These are the worst words because they are spoken on the last day. There is no more time to change. There is no time to make things right. Had these been said on the half-way point in life, adjustments, repentance and changes could have been made. Course corrections could have made a different outcome. But as it is, it’s on THAT DAY. Worst time to hear those words. It means a lifetime wasted. It means too late to do anything about it. It means condemnation from the Lord.

2. It’s the worst words because of who said these words. This isn’t spoken by our parents. It’s not spoken by a boss, a roommate, a wife, or, a neighbor. None of those. It’s Jesus who said these words. These words of condemnation come from Jesus on THAT DAY. Had an apostle said these words, we could hold out for hope and mercy from God. Had our preacher said these things, we might believe that he doesn’t know the whole story. Had our church felt this way, we may think that they just do not understand. But as it is, Jesus said these words. Jesus is never wrong. He never misunderstands. He knows all and hears all. He can read our hearts and see through the fog of our excuses. He knows our motives and our attitudes. He knows when we are faking things and when we are genuine. It is Jesus who said these things. You can’t go above Jesus’ head. There is no one that you can appeal to beyond God. If Jesus is the mediator between man and God and it is Jesus who says these things, then all hope is gone. We have disappointed, disobeyed and let the Lord down.

3. It’s the worst words because of what is said. Jesus said two things. Both of them are shocking and condemning. First, Jesus says, “I never knew you.” This is what strangers say to one another. ‘Have we met?’ one asks. The reply, “I never knew you.” This means a lifetime was spent not in fellowship with Christ. It means one did not walk with Christ, follow Christ, nor make Christ the Lord of his heart. He did not read the words of Jesus. His character, his heart and his behavior was not shaped by Christ. He did what he wanted to do. He may have heard about Jesus, but he never really KNEW Jesus. He may have had his own impression of Jesus. He may have thought that Jesus doesn’t mind what he does. He may have believed that Jesus loves and for that reason alone, everyone is going to Heaven. How wrong he was.

I never knew you. The Lord didn’t say, “I once knew you.” A long time ago, we knew each other. He didn’t say, we once were friends but you defriended me. The Lord didn’t say, ‘you look familiar to me. Have we met?’ No, it was the bold, “I never knew you.” NEVER. Never—not when you were first starting out and I could have guided you. Not when you first got married and I could have taught you about Biblical love and forgiveness. Not when you started making money and I could have shown you how to help others. Not on Sundays, because you didn’t worship Me. You never talked to Me. You never sought Me. You never had a relationship with Me.

What is surprising is that the people who heard this actually thought that they knew the Lord. It was in the name of the Lord that they were casting out demons, preforming miracles and prophesying. How did they do this without the Lord? That, I do not know. But in their minds, they not only knew the Lord, but they were working hand in hand with the Lord. So, wrong. So, confused. So, misguided. Their disobedience, their lawlessness, their failure to do the will of the Father, was the very reason that Jesus did not know them. It doesn’t matter what good we do, if we do not follow God’s will, we distance ourselves from Him. They believed they knew Jesus, but Jesus declared that He never knew them.

The second thing that Jesus says, is, “Depart from Me.” Leave. Get out of My sight. You are not going to be where I am. We remember in John 14, Jesus said, I go and prepare a place for you. That where I am, there you may be also. Not so for this crowd in Matthew 7. They are not going to be with Jesus. Depart. There is only one other place. If it’s not Heaven, then it’s Hell. Eternity without God. No hope. No future. No help. No God. That’s Hell. Here are folks who claimed to cast out demons, prophecy, and do miracles. By those very words, we’d classify them as being spiritual. Spiritual people in Hell? Yes. They were there because they did not obey God. They were there because Jesus never knew them. What this tells us is that not everyone who goes to church services goes to Heaven. Heaven is for those who know Christ and He knows them. Heaven is for those who do the will of God.

The worst words…spoken on the last day…spoken by Jesus…declaring depart from Me. The door closed. Too late. A life was spent doing the wrong thing. Lost forever. Lost, when they didn’t have to be.

Are these truly the worst words in the Bible? It’s be hard to top them. But more important than that, are we wasting a lifetime ignoring the will of God? Will those words be said of us? Until our last day, we can do something about it. We best begin today!

Roger

Jump Start # 184 

Matthew 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

  We return to our passage from yesterday. Here the Lord reveals the shocking surprise that some will receive that they will not enter Heaven. They counted on it. They thought it was a sure thing. They even defend themselves and build a case as to why they should be allowed in. They claimed that they had prophesied, cast out demons and performed many miracles. By their thinking they should be in Heaven. Jesus declared that they did not do the will of the Father. They were lawless. Remember, Jesus was lawful. He was obedient in all things, even the death on the cross, is what the Philippians were told. He did the will of the Father, not His own will. Lawless people do not impress the lawful Jesus.

  In response to their declaration that they knew Jesus, we find our verse today. As with so many Gospel passages, it is full of contrasts. They claimed to know Jesus. They even called Him, “Lord, Lord.” It was in His name that all these deeds were done. Jesus declared: I NEVER KNEW YOU.

  Wow! That silences them. There is no reply. The Lord didn’t say, I once knew you but we grew apart. Or, it’s been so many years that I’ve forgotten you. Rather, I never knew you. They don’t have a relationship. They don’t have a friendship. I am not the Lord to you. You have been on your own and now you will be on your own forever.

  Two thoughts come to my mind:

  First, it is possible for me to think I know the Lord when He doesn’t know me. Lawlessness will do that. Jesus wants us to follow Him. His way is to be obedient to the word of God. Jesus never broke or violated the commandments of God. He was without sin. The Lord knows me through a relationship as I walk with Him in obedience. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15). The Hebrews were told, “He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Heb 5:9). Then in 1 John we find, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 Jn 2:3). How does a person have a relationship with Christ? It is obeying Jesus through faith. It is walking with God. Doing religious activities not found in the Bible is nothing more than lawlessness.

  Secondly, some will find out too late that they will not be in Heaven. That is the thought in this passage. They are shocked. They cry out their defense. Too late. Not everyone who talks about Heaven is going to be in Heaven. Not everyone who thinks they are going to be in Heaven will be there. It is those who obeying Christ through faith. Most people believe when they die they will go to Heaven. Most funerals are preached that way. But this passage turns those thoughts on its head.

  So this brings us to a very honest thought: Are you going to Heaven? What’s your answer based on? Hope? Wishes? Because you are a good person? Because you go to a certain church? Do you think the Lord knows you? How? Is it a feeling? An intuition? The passage brings us back to doing the will of the Father. Paul told the Ephesians, “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (5:17). Are you walking with the Lord in obedience? Are you doing what the Bible tells you to do? Do you treat others the way God says to? Do you manifest purity and holiness as God wants you to? Do you unfairly judge others? Do you follow the narrow path of God? Only you and God can answer those questions. And most importantly, you need to answer as God does.

  Why write such serious stuff? Why is this passage in your Bible? Possibly to awaken us from our sleep and to get us off auto pilot and to take seriously the words of God. Our Lord is good and merciful and kind but He will not save us if we are not serious about obeying Him. Grab hold of the wheel before you crash! Spend some time this weekend in your Bible. Get to church and connect. Pay attention. Be diligent. Call for a Bible study. Do the will of YOUR FATHER!

Roger