Depart From Me ∙∙∙
So why do you keep calling me “Lord, Lord!” when you don’t do what I say? –
Luke 6:46
Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who calls out to me, “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
On judgment day, many will say to me, “Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.”
But I will reply, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you who break God’s laws.”
The Illusion of Connection in the Digital Age
In our modern age, dominated by artificial intelligence and social media platforms like Google, Facebook, X, TikTok, Wikipedia, and constant news streaming, the distinction between genuinely knowing someone and merely having superficial knowledge of them can easily become obscured. Interacting with a Facebook profile, analyzing Xeets, or engaging with a post may create the illusion of connection, yet it falls short of fostering a true relationship.
Authentic relationships are reciprocal, requiring mutual awareness and active participation from both parties. You can’t form a real connection with someone who doesn’t know if you really exist. This is a basic principle that people instinctively understand.
Knowing About God vs. Knowing God
The challenge arises when this principle is ignored in our relationship with the Father. Many people mistakenly believe that being a good person is enough to gain entry into heaven. This belief often depends on actions such as performing good deeds, reading the Bible, attending religious services, or helping those in need. While these practices are commendable, they raise an important question: What does it mean to be “good enough”? How do we measure or quantify goodness?
The Lord Jesus Christ addresses these assumptions head-on through His teachings, which are intentionally provocative and encourage us to examine our beliefs and conclusions. He calls us to go beyond simply knowing about Him and to pursue a real, personal relationship with Him. Without this connection, He does not truly know us.
The Weight of True Relationship
The implications of this truth are both profound and unsettling, prompting a crucial self-reflection: “Do I truly know the Lord Jesus Christ, or am I simply know about Him?” In other words, one might ask, “Have I believed in the concept of God without entering into a genuine relationship with the living God?”
This distinction is critical. Merely possessing knowledge about God, gained through the Scriptures, religious practices, or acts of goodwill, differs fundamentally from having a personal and reciprocal relationship with Him. Authentic faith is characterized by a deep connection with the Father, one that fundamentally alters how we engage with Him and live our lives.
James 1:22 reminds us, “Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” This verse underscores the importance of active, willing obedience as evidence of a true relationship with God.
REFLECT & PRAY
Charles Stanley explains, “Willing and eager obedience is the hallmark of someone who has truly come to faith in Jesus Christ. They obey, not because they want to earn God’s favor, but because they feel delighted already to have received it.” This obedience flows naturally from a heart transformed by grace. It is about responding to the love and favor already given by the Father.
Father, thank You for revealing that You are perfect in Your holiness while I am not. Thank You for inviting me into a personal relationship with You.
INSIGHT
The Prerequisites for Heaven
What does it take to get into heaven? The Lord Jesus Christ has made it abundantly clear what it does not require. It is not about outward displays of religion or impressive spiritual acts. Instead, He highlights that a personal relationship with Him is the key. Through faith, we accept His gracious gift of redemption and enter into a deep, personal relationship with Him.
Matthew 7:21-23 states: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day, many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who break God’s laws.’”
This passage exposes a sobering reality: many individuals who claim to be committed to Christ may not truly be His disciples. While they might profess their faith, refer to Him as Lord, and even undertake remarkable acts in His name, such as prophesying, casting out demons, and working wonders. Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ’s response is both shocking and perplexing. He declares that He does not know them.
A Modern Analogy: The Force vs. The Father
Explore the spiritual themes intricately woven into George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise. This iconic saga intentionally incorporates elements of spirituality, sparking discussions about the divine and the supernatural. Notably absent, however, is the God of the Bible. Instead, we encounter The Force, a pantheistic, all-encompassing energy accessible to those who can tap into it.
The Force enhances the qualities of those who are inherently virtuous, but it also has a dark side. This duality reflects the biblical struggle between good and evil, morality and immorality, selflessness and selfishness, and the tension between the desire to serve others and the ambition to exert control and oppression.
In contrast, the biblical depiction of God presents a being who is pure, holy, righteous, and good. As articulated in 1 John 1:5, “God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” Conversely, the adversary, the primary antagonist in the spiritual narrative of the Scriptures, is entirely evil, marked by pride and destruction. He embodies darkness and possesses no light whatsoever.
The Spiritual Battle
Humanity is caught in a spiritual battle. Each of us belongs to one of two camps: we are either children of the light or children of the darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 reminds us, “For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.” Conversely, Ephesians 2:2 describes the children of darkness as those who follow “the spirit that is at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.”
Children of the King are empowered by the Holy Spirit, as seen in 1 Corinthians 2:3-4. In contrast, children of darkness are somehow enabled to perform supernatural acts through the power of the enemy. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 warns that the antichrist will “do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.”
Even Satan himself is a master of deception. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 states, “But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.”
The Pseudo-Followers
The pseudo-followers of the Lord Jesus Christ present their credentials, genuinely believing they are His disciples. They are shocked when He denies any relationship with them, saying, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). This denial underscores the importance of a genuine, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Each child of the King is called evaluate their heart and verify that their faith is authentic. 2 Corinthians 13:5 urges, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Indeed, you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of true faith.”
A Call to Self-Examination
If your life does not reflect the character of a child of the King, if you do not strive to follow His commandments and fulfill His will, then it is worth questioning whether you truly belong to Him. Matthew 7:21 reminds us, “Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”
This is not about perfection but about relationship. Do you truly know the Lord Jesus Christ? Does He know you? Whose servant are you, really? This is the ultimate question that each of us must answer.
Gratitude for Relationship
The true essence and beauty of a relationship with God is its deeply personal nature. It goes beyond the expectations of perfection and performance, emphasizing instead the intimate bond of knowing and being known by the One who epitomizes perfect holiness.
This relationship serves as the cornerstone of authentic faith, offering not only eternal security but also the daily comfort of experiencing God’s unwavering presence and love.
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©Dr. H 2026
Dr H Reflections 