Depart from Me, I Never Knew You

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)"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.'"

The Wake-Up Call No One Wants

Have you ever had one of those moments where you thought you nailed it, only to realize you missed the mark by a mile? Maybe you’ve been at work, convinced you crushed that project, and your boss hits you with the classic, "We need to talk." That’s what this passage feels like – except it’s Jesus saying it, and the stakes are eternal.

Jesus isn’t talking to the folks you’d expect. He’s not pointing at the liars, thieves, or the people who only show up to church at Christmas. No, He’s talking to the ones who thought they were in. The churchgoers, the Bible readers, the charity givers. The people who did the "right things." And yet, He says to them, "I never knew you." Ouch.

So, what is God’s will for your life? John 6:29 makes it crystal clear –

"The will of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent."

It’s not about performance; it’s about belief. God’s will isn’t a mystery treasure map. It’s simple – know Jesus, love Jesus, trust Jesus. Everything else flows from that.

The Problem with Looking Good on the Outside

Let’s get real for a second. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if we check enough spiritual boxes, we’re good. We show up on Sundays, throw some money in the offering plate, sing a few songs, and even avoid doing that one thing we know we shouldn’t. We think, "Surely, God’s impressed by all this effort, right?"

But here’s the kicker – God’s not handing out gold stars for attendance. He’s not keeping a scoreboard of how many devotionals you read or how often you avoid cussing in traffic. Jesus is making it painfully clear: You can do all the right stuff and still miss the whole point.

What Does "Believe" Really Mean?

Now, let’s talk about this word "believe." In the Greek, it’s more than just thinking God’s real. It’s about throwing your whole weight onto Him – like flopping onto your bed after a long day and trusting it’ll hold you.

Believing in Jesus isn’t just a head thing; it’s a heart thing. It’s not memorizing verses or winning Bible trivia. It’s trusting Him with everything – the good, the bad, and the messy. It’s saying, "I can’t do this on my own," and actually meaning it.

Do You Really Know Him?

Here’s the big question: Do you know Jesus, or do you just know about Him? There’s a difference. Knowing about Him is like knowing trivia about your favorite celebrity – you might know their birthday and what movies they starred in, but you don’t know them personally.

Knowing Jesus is more like a deep friendship – the kind where you can sit in silence and it’s still good. It’s about spending time with Him, not because you have to, but because you actually want to. It’s being honest in prayer, even if all you’ve got is, "God, today was rough."

Stop Trying to Impress God

Here’s the danger – we can trick ourselves into thinking that as long as we keep busy doing "churchy" things, we’re safe. But busyness is not the same as closeness. You can be the most active volunteer, sing the loudest on Sunday, and still miss the heart of God.

Jesus isn’t looking for employees. He’s looking for kids who run to their Father, jump into His arms, and just want to be with Him.

An Invitation to Rest

This isn’t meant to scare you – it’s an invitation. Jesus isn’t standing there with crossed arms waiting to kick you out. He’s saying, "Come closer. Let’s do life together." He wants the real you, not the polished version you bring to church.

So take a breath. Drop the act. Let today be the day you move from routine to relationship. When the day comes, may Jesus look at you with a smile and say, "I know you. You’re one of mine."

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love that calls us closer, even when we’ve tried to impress You with our works. Forgive us for the times we’ve mistaken busyness for intimacy. Lord, we don’t want to just know about You – we want to know You deeply. Draw us near to Your heart. Teach us to trust You fully, to lean on You completely, and to rest in the assurance that we are Yours. Let our relationship with You be real, raw, and life-changing. May we hear Your voice, follow Your lead, and walk with You daily. In Jesus' name, Amen.