Markita's Musings.......

      ““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 NKJV

     As a child did you ever get into trouble away from home, and word got back home? The response of the home camp was "I'm going to beat your @#$% when you get home!" Give or take a couple of words.  😂You're mood was ruined until you faced the prosecutor, judge and executor.  The situation was made worse if the issue wasn't addressed immediately when you got home, you'd kind of hope it was forgotten.  Our loved one chastised us because of love, the wanted us to do the right things, to not leave their homes unprepared for the consequences of the world. Even though they adored you with all their hearts, it didnt excuse you from the pain your backside would receive.

     So it goes with our Heavenly Father, just because you're His child doesn't mean you're daily actions are without consequences.  He plainly says to be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:16), which means to live a life dedicated, set aside for Him. Meaning  you can't do what everyone else does, its not just for the sake of suffering but for relationship with Him. He adores you far more than your earthly parents, but he will get with you.  Talk about keeping it 100/real, His real will hurt your feelings (the truth hurts sometimes), to humble you.  He wants to be in relationship with you, he wants you to be saved.  You can fool people but you can't fool God.

     In the scripture above, He is clearly speaking to His people, because unsaved folks don't prophesy, work wonders, or cast out demons in His name. When I read scriptures like this my mind says "Shut the front door, you can do all of that and still miss the mark?"  The message version says "You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important."  He will then say, "I never knew you, depart from me (walk over to the fiery lake and take a dip). He knows of you, but He never knew you intimately as a close friend.  You never really laid everything down and lived for Him, walked in close relationship, you only thought you did.  So to stand before Him, and hear those words it will feel as if you been run through with a sword into your gut. 

     My advise for myself (cause I know y'all got it together), be intentional in my approach to God. Never take Him, Jesus or Holy Spirit for granted. Never think I've arrived and can take my ease. The word says to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.  The righteous are scarcely saved.  Those words are not just written to fill up pages.  I even prayed from my heart how can remedy certain behaviors, I felt He laid it on my heart to spend more time with Him (Not ritualistic church attendance) make time for to Him alone to get to know Him. 

     “because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””

I Peter 1:16 NKJV

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”
Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”
I Peter 4:17-19 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/1pe.4.17-19.nkjv