I never knew you!

     "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom
      of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many
      will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
      Your name, cast our demons in Your name, and done many wonders
      in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you;
      depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!'" (underlining mine)    

  This scripture (Matthew 7:21-23), can you think of anything more sobering (and/or frightening)? I would also contend that this is not a misunderstanding by man, but those who acted contrary to what Jesus taught - well aware of what they were doing. This response is a last ditch attempt to explain and justify themselves though there really is no defense.

  Do not despair, Jesus also provides us our response: 

     "'Therefore  whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I
      will liken him to a wise man...'" (v24)

Remember... Jesus calls us to a relationship, not a religion (denomination) based in and on His teachings. And His teachings are not mere intellectualizing but are standards of behavior. 

  Once I was asked how one could Know if they were worthy of entering the kingdom of heaven. This is never a quick answer. My response was to tell them that first, one can never attain the kingdom from works alone nor can you buy entry (and 'buy' is more than only money). Second to look at their relationship with the Lord. Do they spend time with Him, discovering what is important to Him, developing who they were becoming? Was their faith growing? Faith is our basis of knowing who we are becoming and what it is we do. 

  Can you look back at who you were 6 months ago and see what you've done to become more like Him. However, 'works' are important because they demonstrate what you know, what you've learned, what you are willing to be and do, and Whose you are. James 2 has pointed out, "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (v 17) ...faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made  'perfect'" (v 22) Works become our statement to the world we live in and to ourselves what is important to us, who we are becoming, and that we are still growing - the Lord isn't finished with us yet.

  Hearing begins the process, doing continues the expression and demonstration of what we know. Without the do-ing, how can anyone know what is our truth? Our Do-ing demonstrates our Be-ing. These two form the basis on which the Lord can say...

     "Well done, good and faithful servant ... enter into the joy (rest) of 
      your lord ..." (Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25)