This morning I received an email from a friend. As I was reading the email I came across the line; "But if God hasn't ruled me out of your heart, I have ruled you out of mine." Ouch. Those words stung. I read it twice and then went back and re-read it not to make it sting twice or three times but to feel the impact of what was being revealed. Being disowned from the heart of someone. To rule, to have authority and to declare. It has been declared that I have no authentic purpose or place in the decisions of your heart. I am no longer scrolled into your heart and I am no longer the offspring of your hope.
I am sure we have all been there before, we have written or recieved these letters..it seems we are never on the same path as the other. But you know what this letter really revealed? Am I on the same path as Christ? Is my heart aligned with Christs'? What if in the day of coming I am face-to-face with God and He says to me, "I have ruled you out of my heart". Just as in the book of Matthew, Christ mentions twice to His disciples when referring to the day of judgment ("in that day"), "I never knew you, depart from me you evil doers" (Matthew 7:23), "I tell you the truth, I don't know you", (Matthew 25:12). Here God, an omniscient God, declares He never knew them. He ruled them out of His kingdom. He is stating this because it is not just about living a life of good works! Good works alone will not get you into relationship with God and not being in relationship with God will keep you from knowing His heart..being ruled out of His heart and His kingdom. Ouch.
"I have ruled you out of mine". I can accept the rejections of this world. What I cannot accept is the thought to be rejected from God, to be ruled out of His heart. To not know Christ is to not know love. Love of an authentic, agape form. Love that covers all blemishes and heals all wounds. Love that is not based on emotions or feelings. He longs to know us.
In my challenging times of being "ruled out" of one's heart, I am more challenged of the thought that so many are "ruled out" from not knowing the heart of Christ. Don't wait til the coming of the Lord when you will profess, "Lord, Lord!" and He will declare, "I never knew you, depart from me..." He is the only person that will never rule you out of His heart, as long as you seek to know it.
Thoughts? Comments?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Getting to the Day of Judgment and finding out that you were wrong is beyound dreadful. This is why I study other religions just to make sure I have it right.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of "good works"... Many Jews believe that good works save us. Many Muslims believe the same. The Qur'an (Koran) tell us in 11:114 " ..And keep up prayer at the ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. SURELY GOOD DEEDS TAKE AWAY EVIL DEEDS. This is a reminder for the mindful."
(Emphasis added...translation by Maulana Muhammad Ali). I believe that our Christian religion is the only one where salvation is NOT by works.
Now, what happens is that people of other religions sometimes make this error of thinking that this doctrine of Salvation by Faith is an excuse for Laziness. I've been reading more of Romans and James too brush up on my refuatation of this notion.
I was speaking to some co-workers about the essentials of Christianity... and what happenend when I got to the Doctrine of the Salvation by Faith... one person said "So, I can get right with God and not do works ?!?" Sigh.
- Sam
Looking at the passage in Mt. 7 (v15-23) the more troubling idea is that Jesus is talking about persons who claim to know Him and not unbelievers necessarily. When you find a person using a name/title twice, e.g. when God speaks to Samuel (1 Samuel 3:10), and when Jesus speaks to Saul (Acts 9:4), it indicates an intimacy between the speaker and the person being addressed. However, Jesus addresses a false intimacy in Mt. 7.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sam in that there is a misconception among people that works are necessary for salvation - this includes all Jews and Muslims. Plus, Muslims have no assurance that Allah will let them into heaven even if they have done a plethora of good works. For the Christian, as Sam has pointed out, our works verify our faith. They confirm it (James 2:14-26). Good works were appointed ahead of time (Eph. 2:8-10) for us to do.
Sorry if I went a bit off topic. There is a lot more I would like to say, but I have to get some sleep! :)
Jason....