And then I will declare to them, “I neve knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness”! Matthew 7:23

 The other day I was approached by a man in Walmart who called out my name and started talking to me. As I listened to him and looked him over, I had no clue who he was. After a brief time, he could tell I was wondering who this man was, and he recalled a time when he knew me at a local church. Still to this day I can say I never knew him.  

 Jesus said in Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” There are many people today who claim to know about Jesus Christ and speak of him on occasion, but are not known by Jesus Christ. On the day of their death, they will be greeted with the words, I never knew you. What an awful feeling that will be for those who are not recognized by Jesus.

 Today, there are many people who claim to be a Christian, but never do anything for Jesus Christ. They live their own lives on their terms, omitting biblical standards, and don’t resemble any Christlike characteristics. Don’t get me wrong, your works don’t get you into Heaven, faith in Jesus Christ and asking His forgiveness of sins is the only way to Heaven. But, the life of a child of God doesn’t end with that decision, it’s a lifetime commitment to Him. It’s praying to Jesus, it’s participating in worship, it’s sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost, it’s living a life of obedience and allowing the Holy Spirit of God to lead you daily through this earthly life.

 If you were to run into Jesus today, would He know you? Make yourself known by being His true friend by pursuing a relationship with Him on a daily basis. You can’t expect Jesus to know you if you are living like the devil, yet still call yourself a child of God. Jesus Christ wants to know you on a deep and personal level.  Open your heart to His presence and see what being a true friend of your Savior can do for your earthly life and into eternity! God bless!