Know

Recently on Facebook, I shared two posts: The first was a video of a young man "spoken word" style, going over a situation where he'd, having recently died, expressed such overwhelming excitement at the inevitable. Meeting His Maker.
He'd went on and on about how in life, he worshiped Jesus and praised His name in church, ensuring His glorious entry into the Eternal Kingdom. However, when he finally did come face to face with Jesus, he heard the words that none of us ever want to hear: "Depart from me, for I never knew you."
His final warning to us - Don't just praise His name, KNOW Him, and be diligent about making sure He knows you!

The second post was more related to the current COVID-19 epidemic. It promoted the idea that although so many people are outwardly appreciating the medical "front lines", their active disregard for "Stay at Home" recommendations are telling a different story. Memes and posts applauding the doctors and nursing staff that are apparently putting in overtime trying to preserve life in the midst of a true life and death situation, are not simply falling on deaf ears, they're coming across as the epitome of hypocrisy as people continue to indulge in their desires to return to normal in direct contradiction to the praise of the medical professionals.
In both cases, how do we make sense of this? Is it just who we are?

Here's The Word:

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me

None of us would knowingly say something one minute and then contradict it later. We don't strive for hypocrisy. Yet, this is exactly what we do. It would be simple and easily corrected if we knew that our reasoning was directly attributed to a lack of clear information, but this does not reflect our reality. We know firsthand that COVID-19 can be deadly, and that the best method of "flattening the curve" is for our diligent adherence to the stay at home orders.
It's also true that God's Word tells us clearly and repeatedly how to embrace Him and the life He promises. Pursue righteousness.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

This is where we get to be humbly honest about the pull that's within each of us. We want what we want. And neither the state nor God is forcing our hand. As citizens and voters of a Democratic and free society, we haven't handed over that kind of authority to the state. And even when it comes to Spiritual things, God's redemption releases us from the authority of The Law into liberty. A liberty whereby we either affirm the Lordship of Christ, or the pressing influence of our own desires.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

We say that we appreciate the nurses and other front-line workers in the current coronavirus pandemic, but if they were privy to your actions, would they agree or find you out as a hypocrit?
We say that we know God and that we love Him. He is privy to the very motivations of your heart. He weighs our intentions. Are you contradicting your profession, or are you sure that He knows you?


In Him,
Cros