“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. 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 7:21-23
It is one thing to believe and another to live what you believe. This scripture talks to us about what it truly means to be citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In God’s kingdom, there are laws and principles we as believers have to follow.
Jesus is telling us here that as citizens of the kingdom, we do not just say with our mouths that we know God, we say it with our lives i.e the way we live. Jesus said in Matthew 7 verse 23 “ But I will reply, I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.”. (NLT)
The question you might ask is what is “God’s Law”? And I believe Jesus tells us about that in Matthew 22:36-40:
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”
That is God’s law made simple. Love God with everything in you and love everybody too. We can’t really say we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven if we do not love. Even if one prophesies in the name of Jesus or casts out demons but does not love, He has nothing. (Read 1 Corinthians 13).
It is not enough to say I believe in Jesus Christ or I have accepted Him. Take it further by making Him your lifestyle.
Brother James said “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” James 2:18. All that Brother James is saying here he will show us his faith but the way he lives. We should do the same show that you are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven by living like one.
Live like Jesus who went about doing good, being completely obedient to the Father, staying away from sin and loving everyone He came across even the Pharisees.
PRAYER: Thank You Lord for Your Word. Father, grant me the grace to be a true citizen of heaven in words and in action. Help me to live a holy life and live a life full of love for You and others in Jesus’ name. Help me live like Jesus lived so I can spend eternity with Him in heaven. Amen.