The Most Frightening Verse In the Bible
Scripture
On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
~Matthew 7:22-23, NLT
Quote
“Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling.”
~Augustus Toplady
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A.W. Tozer says that Matthew 7:21-23 is the most frightening passage in scripture and I am inclinded to agree. Several years ago the LORD gave me a precious insight into the meaning of these verses that brought great comfort to me but I did not write it down. It was so good I never dreamed of forgetting it but that is exactly what happened. A couple of years ago a friend called me and told me that he had read these verses that morning and they disturbed him. I shared with him my deep regret over forgetting the insight that relieved my mind. I don’t know how many times I have prayed since for the LORD to bring that insight back to my mind. He has not even though I meditated on this passage quite a bit. Lately I have been studying it and praying for the LORD to bring the insight back to my mind. He didn’t answer that prayer either but He gave me new and fresh insights and I thank Him. Of course, I still would love to recover the one I forgot.
The first thing I want you to note about the people in this passage is their shock that they are not saved. These folks are surprised, they knew, that they knew, that they knew they were saved but Jesus said, “I don’t know you.” Like my mentor Calvin Inman, I don’t worry about the ones who have doubts, I worry about those who have none. I don’t worry so much over those who come to the altar but I have great concern for those who never come to the altar. These folks never had a doubt: they were rock solid sure they were going to heaven, but Jesus said, No! The second thing you need to notice is that they feel entitled. They actually believe they deserve to be in heaven. They have no spirit of repentance and they make no confessions. Third: they bring a resume of works. They talk about what they have done in Christ name but they do not mention what He did for them. “In His name” could be code for church members. A modern version might read like this: “We are church members, we taught Sunday School, sang in the choir; we even preached sermons.” Trust me folks, if I faced Christ today, the last thing in the world I would want to talk about is what I’ve done for Him. I’ll tell you what I’ve done, I have denied Him like Peter, doubted Him like Thomas; I have failed Him miserably and brought reproach on His perfect name and the only thing I have to offer Him is my shame.
One other thing: The people who should be frightened by Matthew 7:21-23 usually aren’t. It is like the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. I don’t know how many have come to me in fear that they have committed this sin. I have a patented answer, “If you had, you would be here, because you wouldn’t care.” As the Puritans said {John Owens I think}, always accompaning the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is an impenitent spirit. People who have stepped across that line are hard as stone. They scoff at God’s word, hell, and judgment. They have no fear of God. The same sun that melts wax hardens clay. I am convinced that we have people in our service each and every Sunday who have been self-decieved. They are gospel hardened. I don’t believe they hear a word I say. It like the seed that hit the stoney ground and bounced away without taking root. Ironically, these same people are convinced that they are going to heaven and would even argue with you about it.
There is one dead give-a-way: do we talk about what Jesus has done for us or about what we do for Him?
God is good. He is merciful and compassionate. What a priledge to get to share the gospel. The LORD blessed us with a good crowd both a.m. and p.m. At the POINT, we had one new family of seven: mom, dad and five girls. I think 4 are Kindergarten and down. We had several visitors and for some it was their third week in a row. We had a good Sunday School lesson. Unfortunately, we have a dominant Dan in our class who cannot keep his mouth shut.
Jim’s surgery {gall bladder} is Wednesday and we have two on Thursday: Terri’s daughter and Jenny who comes with Brandon and Sue. I am not sure of Jenny’s last name.
Some good news, I did recover [with the help of AI] the story about Francis Ridley Havergal’s sister. After being convicted about talking about herself too often and too much, she made a vow never to speak of ‘herself’ again unless absolutely necessary. I need to make the same vow.
Praise the LORD, we got another rain yesterday evening about 4:30 and another last night about bed time. Together, I think it was around 0.80. I think that makes four or five days in a row that it has rained. PTL, beats a drought any day of the week.
We have a new tech at Grace Point. He has worked for one of the Huntsville News stations and he is an expect at making video’s, editing, and that sort of thing. He was trying {bless his heart} to coach me through one last Saturday. We shot the first one, and he said, “No, no, that is too long.” It was less than 30 seconds but he wants 15. I started by saying, “Hello folks, my name is Jack Bailey.” He said, “Can you just say I’m Jack Bailey, they will know that is your name.” As AI told me a couple of weeks ago: “Jack, no one is interested in your life history.” I said all that to say this: I’m trying hard to use fewer words. I didn’t say I was succeeding, but I am trying.
Have a great day! Thanks for reading the blog.