Transcript:

Hello. This is Pastor Don Willeman Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

Does it really matter whether we know God or not? Does it really matter whether we have an accurate understanding of Him and have a true and genuine relationship with Him? Isn’t it good enough to just try hard to be a “good person”? Is it enough to just be “nice” and “sincere”? It doesn’t really matter whether we know God personally, right? God doesn’t expect our relationship with Him to be our highest priority, does He?

Well, don’t count on it. Jesus said that many will come to Him on that final judgment day and say “Lord, Lord, look at all these good and wonderful things that we have done. Look at what good and sincere people we are!” (the gist of Matthew 7:21-22). However, listen to Jesus’s reply to their false confidence: “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:23).

Now, the implication is quite clear: Whether you really know God in Jesus Christ—whether you’re in a personal and loving relationship with Him—has eternal consequences. 

The Apostle Paul makes quite clear in is his second letter to the Thessalonians: “[Jesus] will punish those who do not know God…with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Knowing God is a matter of heaven and hell. You cannot push this off to a more “convenient time.” It is a matter of life and death. Nothing could be more important. 

Is there anything more important to you?

Something to think about from the “Kingdom Perspective”.

“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 will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

~ Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB)