“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 in your name 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
Many years ago, I was blessed with an opportunity to listen to a sermon by a family member of the late Reverend Billy Graham. The congregation at church was excited to meet someone who knew Rev. Graham on a personal level, as he was an international influential figure, well-respected by Christians and non-Christians alike.
The family member’s sermon concentrated on the verses found in Matthew 7:21-23, using Rev. Graham as an example. He explained that most people knew who Billy Graham was – they had heard one of his sermons, or attended one of his evangelism rallies, or had read some of his famous quotes or works. Feeling a connection to Rev. Graham, as he was always a loving and approachable figure, admirers might be tempted to visit his personal retreat while vacationing in the mountains of North Carolina. They would excitedly pull up to the gated entrance of his retreat, ring the bell, and speak to the security officials through the intercom.
“We were in the area and wanted to come by to say hello to Rev. Graham. We’ve listened to his sermons for years and would love to speak with him,” they would say.
“I am so sorry, but for security reasons, Rev. Graham cannot meet with people he does not know,” the security officials would respond apologetically.
The family member explained that the only individuals allowed entrance into Rev. Graham’s personal retreat were those whom he knew – family members, faithful friends, or trusted members of the community he had appointments with.
The general public may have known who Billy Graham was, and they may have been eager to see him or speak to him, but they were not personally known BY Reverend Graham.
Likewise, there are many people in the world who know who God is.
They may quote verses from the Bible when it suits them, or attend church on occasional Sundays. They may pray when life gets hard, a job promotion is desired, or a family member falls ill. They may respect and practice traditions on holy days throughout the year.
But the Scriptures are clear that these actions alone do not constitute a close relationship with the Father.
In order to have personal intimacy with Christ, one must possess the Spirit of Christ.
This runs contrary to the ways of the world, in which people are encouraged to live by their emotions and feelings. The world declares, “follow your heart” or “live your own truth.” Yet, the spirit and the flesh frequently conflict with one another, as what the flesh desires is not always holy, righteous, or true. To possess the Spirit of Christ, one must often reject their own feelings, and instead seek the Will of the Father.
Romans 8:5-8 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
To form a personal relationship with God, one must consistently spend time with Him.
When Jesus walked on earth as a man, He prioritized quiet time with the Father. He would seek God’s wisdom before making significant decisions or before preaching to the people. When certain days were too busy to carve out intentional time with the Lord, Jesus would often wake early to do so. Prioritizing time with God and seeking Him before all other things is essential for a believer. God is always there, waiting for us to reach out to Him. When we do so, He meets us. God blesses us with wisdom, good fruits, and peace when we earnestly seek Him.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“The next morning, Jesus got up long before daylight, left the house while it was dark, and made his way to a secluded place to give himself to prayer.” – Mark 1:35
A relationship with Christ is one filled with humility and reverence.
It recognizes that we can do nothing from our own strength, but rather through the power of Christ that dwells in us. Again, this runs counterintuitive to the world, which often praises and elevates the accomplishments of humans and does not give credit to a divine Creator. There will be days when our flesh will fail us, and we will be confronted with the reality of our own shortcomings. In order to persevere and push forward, we must submit to the recognition that God is our only hope.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4
“I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.” – Psalm 121:1-2
“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10
A deep relationship with Christ is one in which the believer desires to dwell in the presence of God and in His Word.
Believers recognize that the Lord is their friend, their protector, and their rock. They find God’s ways to be perfect, true, and right; they yearn to know those principles well. Believers are eager to follow God’s commands and to live by them.
“But (the believer’s) delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” – Psalm 1:2
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” – Psalm 42:1-2
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” – Psalm 63:1
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.” – Luke 6:46-47
“Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’” – Luke 11:28
When we reach the end of our earthly lives and approach the entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven, we do not want to fear hearing the words, “I never knew you. Away from me.”
We may know who God is, but does God know us? Have our lives been devoted to seeking Him, talking to Him, and spending time with Him above all earthly things?
God desires to know all of us intimately. May we encourage one another to continue deepening our relationship with the Father. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” – Ephesians 1:17-19