Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
Consider the scene, if you will... It's summer time, (I know... use your imagination), and we are holding a Vacation Bible School at the church where I am the Pastor. One of the workers comes to me, and, handing me a folded piece of paper, reports that a man came up to her, and handed her this, and left very quickly.
I looked down to the document in my hand, and immediately recognized it as being the "Watchtower" handout, the official publication of the Jehovah's Witnesses. And I thought to myself... what is the world coming to? The people who circulate this publication are now even coming onto church grounds, and handing out their literature... which, to me seems to be a bit bold.
That very same afternoon, I had the opporutnity to drive down to Denver with my wife, and we had a most intriguing discussion, with the Jehovah's Witnesses as the springboard. I pondered out loud, as I have occasion to do, "Imagine how many people that there are in this world, who are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that they are heaven-bound... and that if you don't believe just as they do, YOU will be left behind on that final day."
Now, don't brush this off... think about it for a moment. I have, for many, many years had a wonderfully fruitful ministry to the Mormon population of the state of Utah. And I know much about the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know for a fact that if you do not believe the way that they do, you are not considered to be "saved", and according to them, you will not see heaven. This applies to many "religions", and even in principle to our own relationship with Christ, known as Christianity.
What then, if anything, will provide substantial evidence to the "rightness" of any of these belief systems? This is a profoundly deep question, and one that can be easily answered from only one position, and that is of evangelical Christianity. You see, we have the proof... the evidence, so to speak, in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. All other major religions, and all other religious movements base their fundamental beliefs upon the words, or actions of their leaders... all of whom have either already died, or will in a matter of years. And not one of these have been raised from the dead. Only Christ bears that distinction - He is the firstfruits of the resurrection!
Friends, there are MANY who are absolutely convinced that they are on the right track, even within the ranks of those who call themselves Christians, who, on that final day, will say, "Lord, Lord"... only to hear the words of Christ: "I tell you the truth... I never knew you".
I NEVER wish to hear those words... but if I have to... I want to hear them from my position of safety, hiding behind Jesus, and telling the recipients of those words, "Yeah, you heard Him... He never knew you!"
Jesus told us, "I (He) am the way, and the truth, and the life... No one comes to the Father, but by me". Surely there is no other name but the name of Jesus by which man can be saved.
Do YOU have that confident assurance? And if so... upon what do you stand? Remember, there can be no compromise t the WHOLE Word of God! In Him, and Through Him, and By Him we are saved by grace, through faith!! Amen!
Copyright © 1996 Eric S. Reamer, all rights reserved