26th.: First Things First
Jesus tells us that not all people who call
themselves 'Christian' will get into heaven.
He tell us this in Matthew 7:21-23:
“Not everyone that says unto me, “Lord, Lord”
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that does 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 I will profess until them,
I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
In this passage, we see people doing many
love-based activities such as:
1. Feeding the hungry (Mt 25:35)
2. Clothing the naked (Mt 25:36)
3. Visiting the sick and those in prison (Mt. 25:36).
4. Casting out demons.
etcetera.
God does want us to do the above things,
as it shows our love for others.
So then, what is the 'work of God'?
Jesus tells us,
"This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
(St. John 6:29).
This is more important to God than caring for others.
Jesus tells us (Matthew 22:27-38),
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment."
According to Jesus, "Thou shalt love neighbor as thyself,"
is the second greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:39)
Loving God is first.
Believing God, is a part of loving God,
as it is written, "faith, which works with love".
Galations 5:6.
Second, if we love people more than God,
We might be tempted to approve things that they do,
that God would disapprove.
Finally, wanting to spend time with people,
shows our love for them.
That is why Jesus says,
“I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23).
How can it genuinely be said that we love him,
if we don't want to spend one-on-one time with him.
Doing all the above love-based works will do us no good,
if we don't get to know Jesus on a one-on-one basis.
In closing, it has been said,
"Getting into heaven is political;
It is not what we do, but who we know."
If we want to get into heaven, get to know Jesus.
Not as a mystical character who lived and died a long time ago.
But as one, whom God brought back to life - historically.
And then went up to heaven - historically (the book of Acts 1:9).
And is waiting for us to turn our hearts back to Him.
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of me."
- Jesus in Matthew 10:37
"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace ..." Heb 4:16