By REV. LUNA L. DINGAYAN

“Not everyone who says. ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do.” — Matthew 7:21

Lord and Honorable

In Jesus’ time, the title “Lord” was used to address the Emperor of the Roman Empire. This title implied honor, respect, and even worship. If a person were addressed “Lord”, it meant that he was given due respect and honor.

This title “Lord” almost had the same set of connotations as the modern title “Honorable”, which some of our politicians today so love to address themselves, the moment they begin to serve their term as newly elected government officials. Some would even add this title almost permanently before their name.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. exhorted his fellow legislators one time to stop calling themselves “Honorable”, because it seems that the word has already lost its meaning. Either because the person referred to doesn’t live an honorable life, anyway, or the person using it doesn’t really mean it.

Doing God’s will

There were those who loved to call Jesus “Lord, Lord” in his time. But these beautiful words of honor were nothing at all for Jesus, for he knew that these people were honoring him with their lips, but not with their hearts. He could see what was really behind these beautiful words. Thus, he said, “Not everyone who calls me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do.” (Mt. 7:21) What is more crucial for Jesus is for people to do what the Father in heaven wants them to do.

Perhaps, what is even more shocking is when Jesus says in verses 22 and 23, “When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, in your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’”

Well, it is one thing to do God’s work, but it is quite another thing to do God’s will. It is possible to hide our evil desires and selfish intentions behind the formalities of religion and pretend to be doing God’s will. Many Christians today are attracted to the beautiful messages spoken in Jesus’ name; many are lured by those who could drive out demons in Jesus’ name; many are influenced by those who could perform miracles of healing in Jesus’ name.

Giving up pretensions

But then in the Final Judgment, our Biblical text says Christ our Lord will judge us not in terms of the beautiful messages we have spoken, not in terms of the many demons we have driven out, not even in terms of the many miracles of healing we have performed. The Lord will judge us in terms of whether or not we have done what the Father in Heaven wants us to do.

Apostle Paul says, “I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels; I may have the gift of inspired messages; I may have all the knowledge to understand all secrets; I may have all the faith to move mountains; I may give everything I have and even give up my body to be burned, but if I have no love, I am nothing.” (I Cor.15:1-3)

Deception simply doesn’t work. Our Biblical text says that we have to give up all our pretensions before the Living God who knows what is deep in our hearts, and let us do what our Father in heaven wants us to do. The Final Judge says, “Whatever you’ve done to the least of my brethren you’ve done it unto me.” (Mt. 25:40). #