A WARNING FROM MATTHEW 7
If you begin to read this, please read to the end.
The Lord has had me in Matthew chapter 7 for some time now. The kids and I are studying through Matthew this year, and we just finished chapter 7. I have also recently been listening to some good teaching on this chapter. Evan has been studying here, and a recent YouTube video mentioned this passage as well that was sent our way. I love it when God does that because I know that He's really trying to speak to me when I get bombarded from so many directions.
In some ways, I hesitate to write this post, even though I'm not even sure where it's going to take me yet. I had a dream last night, however, and upon praying about it, had this laid on my heart pretty strongly. I am aware that people may call me judgemental for this, and that is okay. At the end of the day, even if the rest of the world is mad at me, if Christ is pleased, that's all that matters. And when I have a burning in my heart, knowing He has called me to speak forth truth that He has recently shown me, and I don't do it, I am disobeying. What He does with this truth in your hearts, is completely up to Him, and I praise Him for that. What He has done with this truth in my own heart is my responsibility, and I praise Him for the work he has done and pray He will contine to do in my own heart.
The section in Matthew that has been impressed on me as of late is chapter 7:13-23. I'm going to break it down.
Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Mat 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
One thing that really struck me is that when I look at the context of this passage, Jesus is talking to those who call themselves believers. They are following Him around, listening to His teachings. The people on the wide and easy path are not only the ones we may see as being obvious "sinners" in this world, like the murderers, rapists, prostitutes, hollywood people, etc. He is talking to "church" people. There are few of those who call themselves believers that actually find the narrow gate and live the difficult way that leads to heaven. That is a scary thought.
Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
From this passage, I see that we are to be purposeful about looking for fruits in all the teachers we listen to and in people who call themselves believers. I fear there are so many teachers out there today who are described in this passage. We are called to examine fruits. It's not hard to walk up to an apple tree and see that it's bursting forth with healthy apples and not rotten apples. It is the same for knowing other believers in general. Is there bountiful fruit, or diseased fruit? If their isn't good fruit, the whole tree will be thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
So, how do we know the difference between a true believer and one who just says it, but isn't? The question we are to ask is, does the person (do I?) do the will of my Father in heaven? People who do all sorts of works in the name of Christ will be turned away in heaven. So, I ask you, as I have asked myself and continue to ask myself, not only do I declare Christ, but does HE KNOW ME? Many people who pray a prayer look at that day as their salvation and hold soley to that for their assurance of salvation, but live their lives however they choose, not at all according to Scripture. They look no different than the rest of the world, except that they go to church on Sundays, and maybe pray before they eat and try to live a good life. That does not save a person, nor does it give proof of a person's salvation! When God truly does a regenerating work in a person's heart, there are fruits to show for it. Their desire is for their whole life to reflect Jesus. Their desire is to bring glory to Jesus in everything they do. Jesus will be precious to each and every believer. Believers show love to one another in all circumstances, even when there is disagreement among them. Believers keep His commandments and hate sin. They are greatly offended when the Lord's name is taken in vane. They cannot watch movies full of foul language and immorality because their own hearts won't allow them to do so. They hate the things of this world, and want nothing to do with it. A true believer holds all things in light of Scripture, and is willing to humble themselves and admit when something they previously believed does not line up with Scripture and turn from those beliefs. They crave knowing truth and study the Scriptures to find it. The things of this world will grow strangely dim, and a true believer is okay with that because this world is not our home. I have asked and will continue to ask myself these questions, and now I ask you. Is this true in your life, or are you at least heading in this direction? We are not instantly perfect at our salvation and all true believers are in the process of sanctification, but we definitely show that we are heading in the direction of pleasing Jesus and reflecting Him more every day. There is proof that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. Keep in mind, it is not these things that save us, but it is these things that give us assurance of our salvation. Heaven is at stake. As Nate says in the YouTube video above, Many people go to hell who NEVER thought they'd be there. I just don't want anyone who reads this to be one of them.
So, if you're not sure of your salvation, what do you do? Cry out to Him. Throw yourself onto Jesus and cling only to Him. Give Him your hopes and dreams, your passions and desires and lay them at the foot of the cross. That is what true surrender looks like. That is all we have to offer him. Repent and believe. Truly repent and continue repenting every day of your life. Believe, and continue to believe every day of your life. Cling to the Word of God and study it with your whole heart. Live every day doing the will of your Father in heaven.
