“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive our demons in Your name and do many miracles in Your name? Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’     Matthew 7:21-23 HCSB

I often say I learn more from the children in the Children’s church than they learn from me. One thing I have learned is they carefully observe others, both children and adults.

As they learn how to conduct themselves as young Christians, they are also observing others. A couple of weeks ago were talking about how we should act as Christians. A young lady, I believe she’s 8 years old, asked me “What about those people who say they love Jesus and go to church every Sunday, but are mean to people?”

Well, what about those people? We all encounter them. I have worked with those people. Sadly, there was a time in my life when I was one of those people.

Our Scripture passage from Matthew 7, this particular section is titled Entering the Kingdom in my Bible.

Jesus begins in verse 13 by saying we must enter through the narrow gate. He said the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, but the narrow gate and the difficult road lead to life and few find it.

He warns against false prophets. He tells us we will know them by their fruit.

Sadly, I had to explain to a class of 5–8-year-olds that just because someone goes to church every Sunday and says they are saved doesn’t mean they are. It’s how they live their lives that tell us if they are truly saved. It’s how they treat other people.

If an 8-year-old child can see something wrong with this picture, so can others. So, what about those people? God knows our hearts. He certainly knows if we are truly saved. Just because we adorn a church pew on Sunday mornings doesn’t mean we will enter the kingdom of heaven. He looks at what’s in our hearts.

You don’t want to be one of those people. I beg of you to know beyond a doubt that you are saved. Jesus tells us few will find that narrow gate and travel that difficult road that leads to entry into the kingdom. Be sure you are one of the few.

Trust in Him today. Confess your sins and ask for His forgiveness. He is faithful to forgive us of our sins if we will simply repent (1 John 1:9). Accept Him as your Savior and allow His Holy Spirit to dwell inside you.

Most importantly love Him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength (Matthew 22:37-39). If you do this, you will have no trouble loving others as you love yourself. Trust in Him today.

It’s sad to tell an 8-year-old child that if those people don’t get right with the Lord and obey God’s word, they may spend eternity in hell when they die, but it’s the truth according to God’s holy word.

We don’t want to be one of those people. If we know one of those people, we want to do all we can to assure that they are no longer one of those people. We must do our best to share the truth according to God’s word. They must know that walking the aisle, getting baptized, and going to church won’t guarantee entry into heaven.

We must live a humble life of a redeemed sinner, set free from the bondage of sin and death. Our lives should be an example that leads others to Christ. We should not live a life that presents a stumbling block for those who are lost and looking for salvation.

Jesus sums it up for us in John 13:35, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

If you love the Lord, it will show.

Don’t be turned away, surrender to Him today.

Have a great day!