Can I admit to you that I have a tremendous fear. It is a fear that keeps me up at night, a fear that prompts me to spend hours posting on this blog and months writing my novels. It's a fear that brings tears to my eyes, causes my heart to seize, and prompts me to give everything I have,(time, money, sleep) to prevent. What is that fear?
It's a fear that many many people who claim to be Christians are going to end up in hell.
You see, it's not a prayer, a "belief", attending church, or doing a host of great deeds that gets you into heaven. It's a relationship.
You may recall the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 when Jesus was in their house teaching a large group of people. Martha was busy working hard trying to prepare a meal for all of them, while Mary was sitting at Jesus's feet, listening to every word He said. Martha complained that her sister wasn't helping her
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
I'm a Martha. I am a worker. I rarely sit down for more than a few minutes. Type AAA personality. So I was always on the side of Martha in this Scripture.Yeah, Mary should help her! But through the years, I've come to realize that being busy all the time, even if it is in the service of the Lord, is NOT what pleases Him. He wants a relationship with us! He doesn't just want it, but it is a condition of true salvation.
Remember when Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary to tell her she was going to give birth to the Messiah?
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
In other words, Mary was saying that she had never been intimate with a man.... how could she become pregnant?
The word "know" in that verse is the greek word, ginṓskō – which means to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance) "experientially know" also as in sexual intimacy.
In other words "know" in this case means a very personal, intimate relationship.
Now, let's tie it in with another Scripture that most of us would prefer wasn't in the Bible
“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
The word "knew" in this passage is the SAME word Mary uses in Luke for "sexual intimacy". This is the word Jesus uses to describe the relationship we must have with Him if we are to enter Heaven.
We can see here that these people Jesus is talking to are very busy working for the Lord. They are doing all sorts of good things for the Kingdom of God. But in the end, they never took the time to have an intimate relationship with Jesus. And because of that, they are cast out and denied entrance into heaven.
Can we be too busy doing good? Too busy volunteering at church, too busy with church meetings and activities, too busy listening to sermons and attending conferences, to actually stop and spend time with the Lord, one on one? Sounds like, from the above Scripture, "MANY" will do that and many will end up in hell when they thought they were going to heaven.
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14
How do you have intimacy with Jesus? Like any relationship you spend time alone with Him. You find a quiet space, open the Bible, read, and then discuss it with Him. Tell Him your fears, sorrows, hopes, dreams, ask Him to help you understand the Bible, ask Him questions, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Praise Him, thank Him, worship Him. Do this every day. Set aside as much time as you can. Then throughout your day, speak to Him, thank Him for every little blessing, ask Him for wisdom, just talk to Him like you would a best friend. Nurture this relationship because it's the most important relationship you'll ever have.
Take it from this Martha. The more time I spend with the Lord, the more time I want to spend with Him. He's my best friend, my prince, my knight in shining armor, my rescuer, my help, my king, my hope, my joy, and my everlasting love. He loves you more than anyone on earth every will and He longs for you to be with Him.
I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Revelation 2:2-5
Don't be one of those whom Jesus casts away on judgment day. Be one of the few He beckons forward and embraces saying, "Welcome precious one, you're home at last!"
