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Fig Leaves Removed

Please consider this wisdom from our brother Larry Criss, pastor of Fairmont Grace Church, Sylacauga Alabama

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; …” – Matthew 7:21

I suppose I think about this passage of Scripture as much as I do any other. The LORD Jesus Christ Himself tells us “in that day,” that day when all hearts will be exposed, when the true sheep of God will be eternally separated from the many mere professors, when every false hope will be proven false, and every fig leave of self-righteousness has been stripped away by the hand of that Just and Holy GOD, in that day when multitudes stand before God with only their own works as their hope of entering heaven. I cannot imagine the utter horror that will overwhelm such people when they hear Jesus Christ say to them: “I never knew you: depart from me.”

I shudder to think that among that many, I see the faces of friends I have known over the years, I also see the faces of many dear family members, and I see the faces of many to whom I have preached the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. I see their fig leaves ripped away and now they stand before God, the righteous Judge of all the earth, without a mediator! Because Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and men, has already told them: “I never knew you: depart from me!” In the closing of this chapter in Matthew 7, the LORD tells us how such a horrible thing takes place – These many started wrong. They never had laid their hope on Jesus Christ, the Rock on which the church of God is built. They had done everything but that, made decisions, were baptized, joined up, without ever truly believing on the Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of their souls. May God not allow us to build our hope on the sands of our own works, because if He doesn’t, that’s exactly what we’ll do. God, please reveal your Son to us, whom to know is life eternal. Amen

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When my eyelids close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgment throne;

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.

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