Does What You ‘Say’ Match Up With What You ‘Do’?

 “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.” Matthew 7:21

A few weeks ago when we talked about this Scripture I failed to mention one important detail that I though you might like. Notice that in this verse it contrasts two things. The word ‘says’ with the word ‘does.’ You know the saying, “actions speak louder than words.” Well this my friends is exactly what this verse is saying. Christ is telling us here that just because you call him Lord, doesn’t mean he is your Lord, but only those who have fruit and do the will of His Father, truly believe.

Sadly we live in a time when people have become increasingly comfortable with separating what they say they believe with how they live. What I mean is, we will talk the talk when we are at church events, yet at home our lives don’t reflect what we preach. Its kind of like believing and agreeing with people that it is good to eat right, yet each day we have Krispy Kreme donuts and hot dogs. In effect you don’t really believe eating right is good, otherwise you would do something about it. Your life doesn’t match your words. In fact, many have even managed to convince themselves that their beliefs are real even when they have no effect on their lives. Much like our belief in eating healthy. We really and truly believe it yet it has little to no effect on our lives. This, in essence, is what we are doing when we ‘say’ we believe in God, yet we don’t ‘do’ his will.

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” James 2:14

Unfortunately some people who ‘claim’ they believe in God, end up taking a middle ground and doing things in moderation. They put a little bit of God in with a little bit of the world. They’ll listen to messages being preached yet if they are asked to pass out tracks or witness, then they have gone too far with their faith. This type of faith is not what Christ had in mind. He is not interested in ‘moderation’ practices from his followers, he desires complete commitments from them.

Christ cautiously warns us in Matthew 7 that not everyone who calls God, “Lord” will enter into heaven, but only those who do His will. And tragically, many will be found in this situation. I do not say this to scare you, nor is it my intent for you to question your faith. I say this simply because its Biblical and I don’t want you to be one of the people found in this Scripture….

“….Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out 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!’” Matthew 7:22-24

For those who claim they believe in God yet their lives do not reflect it, I’m sad to say there is not a happy ending. For God says, “depart from Me, I never knew you.” These are not words you want to here. And they are not my words; they are Gods and as much as I would like to skip over this passage, it is my intent to loving warn everyone for whats ahead. As Jesus warned so many in his day. So I have to ask, does what you ’say’ you believe match up with what you ’do?’

If you do not know the Lord, then now is the time to get right with Him. If you are on the fence, then now is the time to get right with Him. If you don’t know exactly where you stand with the Lord, ask Him, he will reveal it to you. If you are a believer practicing righteousness, then don’t question your faith and know that at times you will make mistakes, but also know that you can get right back on up and try again. Be about Gods work and lets not just talk the talk, but lets walk the walk.

Love you all!