Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:21.
People in East Asia use much more flowery language than Europeans. However, ornate expressions do not alter hard facts. The following incident provides a good example: A young Asian had been employed in a hotel for a few years. Then suddenly one day he did not turn up at work. It was a few days later the manageress of the hotel received a letter: “Dear Madam, My heart is with you all, but my body is detained by other activities.” – a splendid formulation to state that he had taken on another job and would not be returning!
God also receives such “letters”. He hears wonderful statements, e.g. that someone loves Him sincerely. At the same time, however, excuses are made for not being converted, or not living as a Christian in this world, or not having enough time to read the Bible and pray, because so many other things occupy the time available. God refuses to accept such letters. They are posted straight back to the sender.” Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. What serious words!
The second part of today’s verse tells us that there is a blessing for whoever does the will of God, thus proving that he is truly a child of God. This does not mean that we can do anything for our salvation, but that a genuine conversion can be recognized by the fruit that it bears.
Image: By Unknown author – The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42696265