I finished this book the other day and It really got me thinking. Am I dangerously comfortable? Do I ooze with wealth? comfort? am I obsessed with my own Security and well being? Do I really believe what Jesus taught? Does my life back it up?
Am I numb to the RADICAL urgency of the Gospel?
James 1:27 says, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (NLT)
I often think, "if this is what genuine religion is, then what am I doing". I'm obsessed with comfort, entertainment, relaxation, and basically anything that can make my life easier. I think it's safe to say I spend more than half my time thinking about how I can serve myself, and not others. My constant prayer is that I would remember to think about others first. That's half the battle. I think I just forget that my life, my needs, my desires, shouldn't be at the top of the list. I become Numb to the needs of others. I should instead be asking myself, "where can I give"? "Where is there a need that I can meet for someone else"?
Then Jesus says in Matthew 7:22-23 "On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. (NLT)
This is a heavy verse. And I don't want to attempt to make any grand theological statements. I know I can't earn my way to heaven. It's a free gift, I get it, but this passage troubles me. What if I'm missing the "main thing". The reason I was created. Could it be that the most important thing is to "know him"? Maybe "knowing him" should come before everything else. Maybe I should spend less time worrying about my life, and spend more time pressing into him in prayer and meditating on his word. Maybe eveything in this life and the next will become less worrisome and trivial if I would put this one thing first. Maybe God is more interested in knowing us, than how well we do everything else?
Every time I come across or hear this passage, I can't help but wonder, Will he know me? And will I know him?
This passage isn't meant to terrify us. If anything we should draw tremendous comfort and encouragement from it instead. The creator of the universe cares deeply for each of us. He wants us to share our life and our experiences with him, and slowly, ever so slowly, be conformed to his likeness, and find true fulfillment and purpose in Him.
In turn, our response should be to love and serve others, and to share the hope and truth of the Gospel.
- Jon.
