Glitter Without Gold – Matthew 7:21-23

In Deuteronomy 13:2-6 Moses warns Israel that should a prophet give a sign or wonder that comes to pass, but his message is, “Let’s follow other gods,” that prophet is not to be followed, despite the seeming authentication of his message. Can unbelievers really do things like that, power acts that don’t really come from God but look like they do?

Jesus seems to believe so. But Jesus sees the heart. There are people who will claim to be on the narrow path entered through the narrow gate, but who in fact are on the broad path to destruction.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)

Not only is it the case that there will be false prophets who seek to dissuade kingdom followers from the true and narrow path, but there will be those who claim to be kingdom followers and who are not.  The test again is whether they do the will of Jesus’ Father.  It is not enough to profess or claim Jesus as Lord.  The one who does will demonstrate some obedience to God that transforms his life.  The true believer will seek first God’s righteousness, will hunger and thirst for it, and see God filling them.

At the judgment, these self-proclaimed followers will seek to persuade Jesus that they belong in the kingdom because of the works they did in Jesus’ name.  But using Jesus’ name without submitting to Jesus’ commands is not enough.  If you are a worker of lawlessness you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Separation from Jesus forever will be your lot.  Jesus must know you as his servant and saved one or he doesn’t know you at all.

Jesus doesn’t say he will dispute that you did what you did. False believers may in fact prophesy in Jesus’ name, cast out demons in his name, and do mighty works. That may surprise us and we may be shocked that such people are not really believers. Their game might look really good, even though their hearts are a mess. They won’t be able to keep up the charade and will eventually display their unbelief. But they may fool a lot of people along the way. Don’t be fooled by the glitter, and don’t fool yourself.

True believers may mess up, make that ‘will’ mess up, but the trajectory of their lives will be submission to the voice of their Savior, Jesus Christ.  The Father will discipline those he loves (Hebrews 12:5-11) and restore them to the path should they stray.  He will be conforming them to the image of Christ.  We will know believers by the fruit of their obedience.