When we read Matthew 7:21 it is alarming to know that Jesus may forbid us from entering His Kingdom in spite of us knowing Him. It gives us an understanding that knowing Him doesn’t matter but knowing His will and fulfilling it matters.

We often wait upon the Lord to fulfill His will in our lives and ministries. While deriving His will with regards to our lives, we sometimes fail to understand the heart of God. We are satisfied with our contribution towards our ministries and stop there.

What does God desire from us?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son Into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” – John 3:16-17.

God desires that the whole mankind should know that He loves them and by cherishing in His love they should resist the devil, especially when it misleads them during their sickness or troubles saying God is punishing them.

If God wants to punish us then why did He punish His beloved son on behalf of us?

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” – Romans 8:32

In spite of His love He doesn’t want to compromise His glory. The angel who tried to raise to the level of God was pushed down to Sheol.

“I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” – Isaiah 42:8

So, is manifestation of God’s power in our ministries a symbol of a clean chit for us?

In Mathew 7:22 Jesus talks about the ignorant servants of God who were trying to justify their stand because of the miracles performed by them. Servants are not greater than their Master. Whatever they are doing is because of their Master’s authority.  By performing few miracles, thinking that we are the ones doing it, is our ignorance. We are mere instruments in the hands of our Master.

God used a donkey to warn his prophet (Numbers 22:23). Not only servants of God but when common people receive blessings, they forget the one who blessed them but lean completely on their blessings. God is reminding us that this may lead to losing our entry into His Kingdom.

Building the House on the Rock

All good things are coming from God. When God provides, no one can add sorrow to it. Initially the word gives peace and happiness. (Jeremiah 15:16) After sometime, word separates people from worldly people whose pleasures are derived from earthly sources (Jeremiah 15:17). Finally the word shapes our lives to match the standard of Jesus (Hebrews 15:18 & Psalms 105:19).

This process hurts people when they don’t understand the love of God. Building the house on the rock means building our lives on Jesus, who withstood all the temptations and proved Himself to be a rock. Many think that memorizing or reciting the word will help in building our lives on Jesus. Doing so is good but it will not draw Jesus into our situation.

There were many Jews surrounding Jesus but the prayer of a centurion drew Jesus’ attention. The centurion did not recite the verse

“For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” – Psalms 33:9

Rather he applied it to his position and blessings that God had bestowed on him and claimed it with personal experience. All of us have plenty of opportunities to apply the word in our daily lives and to enjoy a personal touch of Jesus but are we availing those opportunities?

Building the House on the Sand

Here sand signifies Satan. Once he too was a rock but his desire for power arose like a mighty wind and it eroded the rock into uncountable small pieces of sand. Mankind got lured by Satan to deposit the blessings of God on this sand. We must be like the centurion who did not let his authority go to his head and fall on Satan’s sand.

The Whole World is in the Hands of satan

Satan too gives prosperity to those who are connected with him. Evil desires connecting the heart of human with devil. Once this bond becomes strong, confusion fills the hearts of men and slowly they lose their peace and land in depression. Satan can give prosperity but cannot give peace along with it. The accumulation of wealth brings pride in the heart and it paves the way for their downfall. Lives built upon a fallen object is subject to fall.

Conclusion

1. God wants that His people should understand that at all times He loves them.
2. God wants us to apply His word in our day to day lives.
3. God wants us to be cautious of satan’s snarls.

May God give this grace to all of us so that we may gain our entry into His kingdom.