“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!’” (Matthew 7:21-23, NIV)
Prophecy and miracle-working in the name of Jesus — though impressive — will not get us through the “pearly gates.” Jesus makes a clear distinction between (for lack of a better term) “exceptional religious performance” and righteous living in the day-to-day.
The Lord doesn’t care whether you or I ever perform miracles, prophesy like an Old Testament seer, or put demons to flight. (Any of that is 100 percent God and 0 percent us, anyway.) What impresses God is our obedience to Him in even the smallest and most ordinary of things.
God is not seeking rock stars, but He is seeking men and women who are “rock solid” in their commitment and in their obedience to His will. – Luther
