Have you ever gotten lost? Be it in the woods or driving somewhere. We were once on a family vacation. We would travel in multiple vehicles to the amusement park on a daily basis. The first day I punched into my GPS the destination. Now I had never been to this place before, but others with me had. As I was driving they started saying this doesn’t look right. When we finally got to where the GPS sent us it was an empty lot. My Father in law came to my defense and said that he saw me punch in the right address. Somehow though with me trying to do everything right I led my family to the wrong place. I didn’t know I was lost until I reached my destination.
That is a scary and very unfortunate situation many find themselves in. Many people may walk through this life thinking I’m headed to the right place. Only to find out they weren’t. Unsure about that? Let’s read two different passages in Matthew.
Matthew 25:41-46 KJV 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 7:22-23 ISV 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn’t we?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!’”
These are words of people that were surprised and confused. They somehow thought they were doing the right thing. This is why it says to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12 KJV). Make sure you’re right.
This is not a gloom and doom message. No, this is someone saying, “are you sure this is the right direction?” This is hope, because you’re able to read this and if you can read this, there’s hope. I can say it no better than Peter: So then, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election certain, for if you keep on doing this you will never fail (2 Peter 1:10 ISV) .
2 Peter 3:10-14 BBE 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; and in that day the heavens will be rolled up with a great noise, and the substance of the earth will be changed by violent heat, and the world and everything in it will be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things are coming to such an end, what sort of persons is it right for you to be, in all holy behaviour and righteousness, 12 Looking for and truly desiring the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will come to an end through fire, and the substance of the earth will be changed by the great heat? 13 But having faith in his word, we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, which will be the resting-place of righteousness. 14 For this reason, my loved ones, as you are looking for these things, take great care that when he comes you may be in peace before him, free from sin and every evil thing.