Better Off Knowing

"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." 
Matthew 7:21 (NIV)

I read about a psychiatrist who wrote about patients holding surprising beliefs, with absolutely no basis in reality. One patient sat down in his office and said, with complete sincerity, "I don't know why people have a problem with us; we can fly." They couldn't fly. But they were absolutely convinced they could. The psychiatrist stopped calling these beliefs. He started calling them delusions.

A delusion about many things won't hurt you. But a delusion about whether you actually know Jesus has eternal consequences.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:21 that many people will stand before Him one day and be shocked. They called Him Lord. They checked the box, walked the aisle, and filled out the card. And He will say, "I never knew you." 

The most dangerous spiritual condition is not doubt. It's false certainty. A person is better off with no hope than with a false hope, because the person who knows they're empty is far more likely to reach for the real thing.

So start with an honest question: What has actually changed? Not whether you use the right words or show up on Sundays, but whether the direction of your life has shifted since you said yes to Jesus. 

Does obedience to God show up anywhere in your week, in what you do with your money, your relationships, your private moments when no one is watching?

If the answer makes you uncomfortable, that discomfort is a gift. It means you're no longer deluded. Repent, and don't rush past it to feel better. Talk with God about the places where nothing has changed, the habits that haven't moved, and the areas where Jesus is Lord in name only. You're not telling Him anything He doesn't know; you're just finally agreeing with Him.

And He can handle every bit of it. You can't get real with a God you're performing for, but you absolutely can get real with the One who already knows you completely.

And that's where the real thing starts.

Prayer: God, I’m coming to You with all my heart, confessing my need for You. I see where my growth has stalled and my habits aren’t consistent. I’m bringing all of it, and want all of You. I want to actually know You, Lord, and let it be shown in a life following hard after You. In Jesus' name, Amen.