You thought life had gone pretty well. Health, wealth, and happiness – those were the principles by which you lived your life. Many people loved you and you loved many people. There was no reason for concern on your part. You thought everything was going to be fine. There was never any sign of disaster. If so you surely would have sought help. You would have educated yourself. You would have done something to treat your symptoms before it was too late.
But now it is. You’re standing before the Physician and you hear that word, that one word that spells disaster. A word that changes everything from that point on. It’s a word that means your life from that point on will never be the same again. It’s a word that people spend their entire lives hoping to avoid but now it’s your destiny. It’s something you will have to deal with and suffer through day in and day out from this point on. So there you are, standing across from the person who holds the information that will impact your future in their hands and you here that word. That one little word that starts with a “c.”
“Condemned.” You are condemned. You lived through life assuming that your happiness equaled holiness. You thought that just being a good person was enough. You thought that as long as you were a “moral” person – you didn’t lie, cheat, steal, cheat on your spouse, and you paid your taxes – that you had nothing to worry about. You never really went to church but you thought that was okay. You thought God cared more about what was in your heart than what you did.
But now throughout eternity these words will echo in your ears – “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven…And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21,23).
“Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10).
-Andy