i never knew you

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down , and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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 7:17-23

I can't understand the spiritual audacity of people who use the name of God to excuse living lives of sin, wickedness, and iniquity. I try to wrap my head around it, and I can't. I want to yell and scream and cry and grieve for the state of the Church. The state of decay of the believers I know is disconcerting. And I know how we got here.

We have not sought the face of God.

We have not practiced "perseverance of the saints."

We have not worked out our faith.

We Christians are supposed to be running a race towards the mark of the HIGH CALLING of Christ. The Olympic trails have been running on tv all week. I see the track and field athletes, and hear their stories of dedication and sacrifice.

We as the Church are going to have to experience so much purification if Jesus is going to come back any time soon!

In the above passage, Jesus was speaking to the multitudes and specifically to His disciples. He was talking to the people who were closest to Him.

I want to be one of those whose ears are open and heart is set to obey.

I don't want my life's works to be burnt up. If "wonderful works" can be counted as naught, that is a serious deal to consider.
Seriously.

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." -Philippians 2:12

thoughts on Osama bin Laden

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

The fact that Osama, hated man across the world by many both Christians and Muslims alike, is dead somehow does not excite me. And before stones are thrown, YES, I REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11TH. Very Well. I stood in disbelief with my students and watched the second tower get hit and both towers fall. Horrible day. Beastly crime. The fact that he is dead only means that another such monster will rise to perpetrate terror upon the world in replacement.

I am reminded by verses in Matthew 5 that I memorized years ago when I was a teen: "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  

In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to obliterate the heathens that would seek to adulterate His people and their faith in Him. In the New Testament, He commanded us to love. WHAT IF, just what if, the young terrorists who gave their lives in jihad on 9/11, and on all the other myriads of dates that mark terrorist hits, had been evangelized and reached for the Gospel. What if their Christian neighbors, in the next house next door or the apartment above, had reached out to them and by the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT they had been converted?!? How many of us have actually prayed for the salvation of these men and women who perpetrate crimes against humanity? And who has prayed for Bin Laden?

Not many of us, I am pretty sure.

Again, from Matthew 5: "You have heard that it was said, And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Jesus did not advocate apathy or passivity. Look at what he did in the temple, exploding against the hypocrisy, idolatry, and thievery in His Father's house. But He does command us to LOVE as He and our Heavenly Father love.

As a teacher, I am well aware that some of my students from "christian" families are abused every day- verbally, emotionally, or physically. I grieve and pray and counsel and actively do what I can to stem the tide of evil being perpetrated by people claiming the be washed by the blood of the Lamb. The Church is in pitiful and deplorable shape. Jesus says that He is coming back for a spotless Bride, without wrinkle or spot. So much of what I see and hear is far from that. What this world needs is JESUS and His message of LOVE, HOPE, and SAVING GRACE. I know that even in my own life, walking circumspectly is so difficult.

OBL is most likely going to burn in hell for eternity. Either He heard the Gospel and rejected it, or he had "eternity in his heart" and ignored it. Or could he have lived in the world and never heard the Gospel? I like the way that R. C. Sproul explains this in this article, "Are those who have never heard of Christ going to hell?"
http://www.ligonier.org/learn/qas/are-those-who-have-never-heard-christ-going-hell/

Jesus himself commented on this. Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." I think this specifically refers to those who have heard and rejected the Message. God is holy and righteous and just. The Scriptures are full of references to His recompense of the wicked.  But in balance, Ezekiel 33:11 says, ‎"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!"

I don't think that my thoughts are conclusive on this matter. Just thinking aloud here...