Many will say

Many will say
Jesus said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”Matthew 7:22,23.
Mahatma Gandhi said,

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, 

but you Christians - 

you are not like him.”

                                              Mahatma Gandhi.

When it comes to many who call themselves Christians Gandhi is right. Many calling themselves Christians are not like Christ. They are not even Christian.
A true Christian is someone who is doing their best to put the teachings of Christ into action in their life and lifestyle. Teachings summed up by Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
For a true Christian Love is the motivating factor in their life. The apostle Paul defining love as,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                        1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

A true Christian remembers why Christ came into this world Jesus saying,
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17.
Something we can only do by showing God’s love to all people.
Martin Luther King jr. the great American civil rights leader said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

                                                                                    Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thus I would ask anyone who claims to be a Christian, Are you showing the love of God to those around you?
Please think about it.

Many will say

Many will say
Jesus said,
“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
The English, American evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said,
"I doubt if 5% of professing Christians in America are born again--and that's true of England!” Leonard Ravenhill.
I think he may be right especially among those who claim to be Evangelical Christians.
I think part of the problem is Christianity in America in particular has become part of the culture. American and to a lesser degree Canadian evangelicals have slipped into the false belief that their countries are, or at least once were Christian. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Christianity is a part of the culture of America and Canada but only a part. The majority of people in North America do not go to church once a month, or even once a year, let alone participate in a church congregation.
Even among those who go to Church one has to ask the question are they truly Christians. As someone has said
“Going to church and reading the Bible does not make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage and reading an auto repair manual makes you a car.”
I hear constantly from evangelicals in particular who say, “I read my Bible everyday.” But to quote Ravenhill again,

“People say, "I read my Bible everyday", 

but when was time last time they studied it?” 

                                             Leonard Ravenhill

Within Christianity today there is a dire need to turn back to the Bible and study it. To read the Bible and understand what it is to be a Christian.
We need to get away from this foolish notion that any nation on the face of the earth is Christian. The apostle Peter said Christians were a Holy nation. He did not say not an earthly nation. Peter said,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
I firmly believe that if Christians want to reach the world for Christ they first need to turn back to the Bible and study what it means to be Christian. Otherwise they will never reach anyone.
Please think about it.

Many will say

Many will say
“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
Let me make things clear from the start I am speaking to Christians here. Particularly North American Christians which is were I live.
To them I ask will you be one of the many who hear the words,
“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”?
Are you truly living a life for God. Do you truly love God, your neighbour and your enemy?
Are you reaching out to all segments of society.
If you claim to be Christian would you ever be invited to the home of a Gay or Lesbian family? Would an abortionist welcome you into their home.
How do people truly see you?
Do people know you for what you are against, or what you are for?
What does your life truly reflect?
The apostle Paul tells us,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
The apostle Paul make it clear what the fruits of God’s spirit are when he writes,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
Are these the traits people see in you?
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Are you living a life of Holiness before all men?
A life of holiness to me is a life filled with unconditional love.
It doesn’t consist of demonstrating against other lawful groups. It isn’t seeking to restrict the rights of those we disagree with that are lawful within the secular democracy in which we live.
A holy life is living a life Christ would be proud of. Love for God, for ones neighbours, even ones enemies.
This is the kind of life Jesus and the apostles lived. It is the kind of life we as Christians must live in 2016.
Please think about it.