TOO GOOD TO NEED SALVATION?
© 2023 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)
Some people work hard to appear respectable. They call upon God, repeatedly, referring to Him as “Lord, Lord”! Claiming to prophesy in Christ’s name, some may even claim to use Christ’s name in exorcising demons. In addition to these notable accomplishments, they point to “many wonderful works” they’ve done for Christ.
Listen to what Jesus Christ shall say to them on Judgment Day when they appear before Him.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
Apparently, these people were more interested in appearing righteous than in actually being righteous.
Now consider another group who shall also appear before Christ on that day.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:31-40)
These people served the Lord out of the love He had placed in their hearts when they trusted Him for salvation. They had no need to keep a list of their righteous acts. Love, not reward, was their motive. He had saved them with His sacrificial blood on the cross of Calvary.
Where do you and I fit into this picture?
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