Transparency

- Pastor Rusty - May 16, 2025

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matt. 7:21-23

This passage of scripture came up in a theological discussion this week. There were a number of theologians present during this discussion so I refrained from offering any input. So now I will offer my simple interpretation of this passage without going into deep discourse. The key is in verse one with one qualifying statement, “He who does the will of my Father!” This statement seems to “qualify” the ones who will enter the kingdom. Doing the will of the Father doesn’t seem to be complicated. Good intentions along with heavy theological demand doesn’t seem to account for much.🤔 Then you have this phrase, “Depart from me for I never knew you.” He doesn’t claim that you didn’t know Him, but rather that He ever knew you.🧐 This seems like a theological conundrum seeing that God knows everybody inside and out. He is omniscient!🧐 That means He knows everything. But I think it means that you never expose yourself to Him without religious façade. Wearing spiritual mask and constantly hiding who you truly are from Him. For many their whole spiritual existence is this way. This is how an orphan spirit is able to survive and thrive in a believer’s life. We, like Adam, are hiding from His presence. And then, like Adam, we gather fig leaves to further hide ourselves from Him.

Don’t try to draw identity solely from your works, but rather from your relationship with the Father. Exposure becomes your friend. Hiding will make you a spiritual con man, always touting how spiritual you are. Smoke and mirrors…🧐. And at the end of your time here you’ll hear Him say, “Depart from me for I never knew you.” You want to avoid this at all cost. Allow Him to “know” you. When He knocks open up to Him. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20.

Pastor Rusty

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