They Rush Onward (Matthew 7:21-23)
When the boys were tiny, I became an adjunct professor at Ohio Valley University. Before my first semester, the school rented a steamboat so the faculty could enjoy a fellowship meal while taking a cruise down the Ohio River. Tammy and I thought that would be a fun evening, so we took our boys and went.
When we arrived at the docks, we got on the steamboat and sat our casserole next to the others. I didn’t know a soul—it was my first semester—but we started milling around and talking. But these folks seemed just a little different from what I was expecting. Do you know why those folks seemed different? My family was on a steamboat full of members from the local Baptist church. Fortunately, we discovered that before the boat left on its tour. We finally found the right boat and had a pleasant evening.
Have you ever gone to the wrong place? How many of you have shown up to a doctor’s appointment on the wrong day? Have you ever woken up on Saturday morning and started getting ready for work? Have you ordered groceries from HEB but you went to Walmart to pick them up?
You can easily go to the wrong place. In fact, it’s easy to go to the wrong eternal destination. Many folks think they’re going to heaven when they are really going to hell. “Many obliviously rush onward to hell.”
Scripture (Matthew 7:21-23)
verse 21:
From what Jesus said, it’s obvious that one must say to him, “Lord, Lord.” In other words, one must confess Jesus as his master and ruler.
Some say, “Lord, Lord” but fail to live that admission. Accepting Jesus as one’s Lord means doing the Father’s will.
verse 22-23:
Many will stand before Jesus on Judgment Day and point to their religious works. Jesus mentioned miraculous gifts that are no longer available, but think about what Jesus said in light of this century. Prophesying is comparable to teaching the word; how many people preach but do not do the will of the Father in heaven? Casting out demons is comparable to caring for the less fortunate; how many people care for the disadvantaged but do not do the will of the Father in heaven? Many mighty works is comparable to all the work people do in Jesus’s name; how many people work night and day in Jesus’s name but do not do the will of the Father in heaven?
Jesus will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” Christians often praise our religious neighbors for what is perceived as doing good; Jesus said that they are “workers of lawlessness.” They do no good, for they lead people to hell; they are “workers of lawlessness.”
Application
“Many obliviously rush onward to hell.” This morning we need to see if we are obliviously rushing onward to hell. Are you rushing to hell? How can you keep from rushing toward eternal torment?
One: You must Say.
Confess Jesus as your Lord. Jesus: “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 10:32-33). “With the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Rom 10:10). “Take hold of the eternal life . . . about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim 6:12).
It’s necessary to make that confession before baptism; that’s certainly what Paul meant as he wrote to Timothy. But do you honestly believe you only need to make that confession once? You need to let people know—whenever the opportunity arises—that Jesus is your Lord.
Say Jesus this week. If you’re on Facebook, post your favorite Scripture. Take at least one postcard and invite someone to our our Soul-Saving Sunday.
Two: You must Study.
Only those doing the Father’s will go to heaven. How can you do the Father’s will unless you Study and know his will?
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16). “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16).
Please spend at least 15-30 minutes every day in the word. Study and know God’s word.
Three: You must Submit.
Submit to the Father’s will by doing his will. “Blessed . . . are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Lk 11:28). “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Js 1:22). “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 Jn 5:3).
Where do you not Submit to the will of the Father? Identify where you need to Submit to God’s will and then Submit!
Are you submitting to God’s will this morning, or do you need to Submit as we stand and sing?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.