Expect It - Part 2

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  (Mat 7:21-27)

Last week’s message noted how Jesus’s birth, although prophesied, and announced by a start, surprised many of the people of the time.  They were expecting a king, but they didn’t know when He would come and they didn’t expect Him to be a baby!  This surprise was relatively inconsequential, but Scripture also tells us that Jesus will return to retrieve those who have repented of their sins and believe in His Holy Name.  Those who do not believe will experience eternal damnation.  We don’t know the time or date He will return, but I advise you to be ready.  “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 2:38)

For many people, myself included, repentance and baptism took place years ago, so is there anything else we must do to be ready for Christ’s return?  Yes!  This week’s message opened with Jesus’s words from Mat 7:21-21, a portion of His Sermon on the Mount.  Calling upon the name of the Lord does not secure our place in heaven.  Notice the phrase in v. 24 “puts them into practice.”  Yes, we must confess our sins, call on His name, and be baptized, but we cannot stop practicing life in the Holy Spirit.  I could list a number of things, but will try to be brief.  

We must share the Good News of Jesus.  We must share with others that they don’t have to bear the burden of their sins.  We must tell others about Jesus and show them the way to find Him.  19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Mat 28:19-20)

We must love people.  While we must live in the world, we must lead lives that set us apart from those who practice sin, yet we must love those who practice sin in order that we may influence them to repent of their sins.  Scripture advises, “...Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  (Mat 5:16)  “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”  (Mat 5:42)  “...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”  (Mat 5:44-45)  

We must pray and trust God’s plan and His timing.  “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”  (Mat 6:6-8) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”  (Mat 6:25)

We have much work to do as we wait.  We cannot be complacent believing we have plenty of time, it doesn’t matter, or believing we are secure because of a decision we made years ago.  We are sinful.  If we are not doing the work God has called us to do, we are likely backsliding into a sinful, faithless lifestyle.  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  (Mat 7:21)  We must be ready by using our specific gifts and talents to share the Good News, love people, and through our prayer life.  “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Mat 24:27) 



Thank you for reading!  
Kim

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