"You love me but you don't know who I am.
I'm torn between this life I lead and where I stand.
And you love me but you don't know who I am...."
This morning morning I heard those specific lyrics and instantly started thinking about the words of Jesus.
"If you love me, keep my commands." John 14:15 NIV
Am I keeping His commands. While I would like to say that I am, I know that I am still falling short. I can't do it all, but also know there is much more I could be doing. I start asking myself:
- Am I helping the homeless?
- Am I being a Godly example for my wife and kids?
- Am I treating others as I would want to be treated in all cases?
- Am I truly loving my neighbor?
- Do I even understand who my neighbor's are?
- Have I done anything to help the sick/dying?
- If I were to stand in court, would there be enough evidence in my life alone to convict me of being a follower of Jesus?
- When was the last time that I led anyone to Christ or at least planted a seed so that it can be harvested later?
These words and questions have echoed in my heart all day. Then there is the big question. If I passed into eternity today, would Jesus claim me as His own?
"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. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!" Matthew 7:21-23 NIV
How I pray that I am not just playing at being a follower and am not just acting the role of a follower of Christ. How I hope that I am not just learning about Jesus but am also getting to know Jesus. Because the more I learn the more I realize that simply knowing about Him is not the same thing as truly knowing Him. That if I don't truly know Him, then I am just part of the goats who will be sent to the fires of Hell.
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
"The the King will say to those on His right,, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"The the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?'
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
"Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.'
"They will also answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and did not help You?'
"He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.'
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)
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