To Be Near Unto God

In Matthew 7:21 Jesus clearly states that those that never got to know Him will be cast away: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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 in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’ – Mat 7:21-23 For very many this is a very real risk. But it need not be a risk at all. Everything we have from God - including salvation - comes from coming to Him, totally surrendering our will to Him, and from hearing His voice so that God can lead us into eternal life everlasting. And this is not only for the initial commitment to Christ. It is also for keeping us in Christ and bringing us into a closer and closer relationship with our Creator, Lord, and Savior. Without the continual nearness to God we will die like a branch dies when not attached to the vine.