Years ago you might have met him. He would have been introduced to you as the assistant state attorney general in state of Louisiana or as a hospital physician in Georgia or as a Pan American World Airways pilot who logged over two million air miles by deadheading. His name was Frank Abagnale Jr. and he was none of those things. He was a fraud and also committed frauds against individuals and small businesses. His book and the movie about his life were both called “Catch Me If You Can.” His whole life was designed to make people believe that he was someone he really wasn’t. Even now, no one really knows how much of what he says about his past is true! Frank was good…really good at fooling people. But he got caught. I thought about that and couldn’t help wondering about folks who talk Christian talk, do some Christian things and even go to church…but they aren’t real. Now, I’m not really picking on any person, but simply remembering what Jesus said. He said that there were going to be a lot of folks who call Jesus “Lord” who won’t be going to heaven. He said that he could look beyond the talk and look at the walk and their heart…what their life is like. Jesus said that there will be a lot of folks who will claim that they were really religious and did dramatic things like prophesy and even miracles. But Jesus said that he will tell them plainly…I never knew you…go away…all you did was to use me to make yourselves important. Jesus once said, in a prayer, that this is eternal life, that they know you, the one true God and Jesus Christ whom you sent. That’s the key to all of this…just knowing Christ. Having and nurturing that loving and submissive relationship with him. You and I need to talk to him (prayer), listen to him (Bible) and celebrate and honor him with others (church). But most of all, be real with this Jesus of the Bible, because if you will do that, he will make himself known to you and that is the heart of this eternal life. And never forget that you might fool all the folks around you…but you’ll never fool this Jesus of the Bible. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Matthew 7:21-23 BSB Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) 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?’ (23) Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
Remember I’m praying for you…
With love, PJ
Matthew 7:21-23 BSB Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) 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?’ (23) Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
Remember I’m praying for you…
With love, PJ