“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23)
Many will stand before Jesus Christ on judgment day and hear the words, “I never knew you.” They will then be told by the King of Kings to get out of His sight, for they are violators of His Law.
To sit in a doctor’s office and be told you need to get your affairs in order because you only have a short time to live would have to be a gut wrenching experience. But to stand before a Holy God and have Him say “I never knew you” will make that seem like a walk in the park. One’s fate will be far worse than the mere loss of a mortal body. It will be an eternal separation from God and an existence in hell that will last forever and ever.
Most people today seem to have one of three thoughts on this subject. Either their good works will out weight their bad deeds, or since God is a loving God, He will forgive them and welcome them into Heaven. Then there are those who simply do not believe in an afterlife and an awaiting judgment. All are false.
Seventy to eighty percent of Americans claim to be Christian, depending on which study is used. Only God knows the true number, but I personally feel that 70-80% is very unrealistic. It is probably much, much lower. That would mean that a great number of people will be facing Jesus at the White Throne judgment instead of the Bema Seat as Christians, while assuming beforehand that everything is “okay” between them and God.
Preceding the verse above, Jesus made it a point to compare entering the strait gate as opposed to the wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction. He spoke of a good tree and a corrupt tree and the fruit they each produce. Then He says,
“21Not 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. 22Many 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?23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you (emphasis mine): depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
Much of this message is directed toward false prophets, but is also applicable to any who “fit the bill.” Untold numbers of people are leaving this world everyday totally oblivious to what awaits them. They will believe any and everything, but the Truth that comes from God. Only when it is too late, will they realize they exchanged the Truth for a lie.
The false prophets of Satan are speaking their “feel good” gospel over the airwaves and from the pulpits of America every day. Repentance is omitted. Hell is omitted. Judgment is omitted. Only Jesus can save is omitted, while thousands, perhaps millions, march blindly onward toward their doom. I shudder to think of how many will hear the words, “I never knew you,” thinking all is well.
Jesus does not save souls that afterwards produce bad fruit or no fruit at all. If you are producing bad fruit or no fruit, you are a corrupt tree, and will be cast into the fire. Unfortunately, untold numbers of people think “lip service” is okay. Am I saying that we must work to obtain salvation? Of course not, and neither was Jesus, but if we are the branch and He is the Vine, we will produce good works, because He (the Vine) does the producing through us.
Jesus said that He knows His own.
“27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”(John 10:27-28)
Otherwise, there are those haunting damning words again, “I never knew you.”
Friends if you don’t have a love in your heart for Jesus and a longing to know Him and serve Him, you are not one of His own. He does not know you. Don’t kid yourself. Don’t play Russian roulette with your soul. You only have one chance to get it right, that “one chance” being this life you are now living. Once this life is over, there is no turning back. There is no second chance. Ask Him today to save you and He will. You then will not hear those gut wrenching words, “I never knew you.”
Grant Phillips