Depart From Me – I Never Knew You – The Finality Of It Series

DEPART FROM ME – I NEVER KNEW YOU – THE FINALITY OF IT

In recent times I have been revisiting some of my poems to write introductions for them and one I came across was looking at what the Lord said from this verse - {{Matthew 7:23 Then I will declare to them, “I NEVER KNEW YOU. DEPART FROM ME, you who practise lawlessness”}}. Later on we read this – {{Matthew 25:41 Then He will also say to those on His left, “DEPART FROM ME, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels”}} and the reason for that was the shameful treatment of God’s own children.

The setting for that is the Second Coming after the Tribulation, and those told to depart will be the ones who despised and persecuted the Jews. That is not my theme for today.

This is an area we don’t usually consider because it is almost too serious; it is not pleasant to speak of those God sends to the eternal fire. It is like going to a Court hearing, something we’d rather avoid. The verses look at accountability and judgement and eternity.

There is nothing more tragic than thinking you are correct only to find you have been entirely wrong. That is the situation we have here and the overwhelming realisation that we have been wrong, descends like a sledge hammer. There are ministers who will not challenge people’s lives with these eternal issues. “Not to cause offence,” some would say. “Not to rock the boat,” others say, and some secretly thinking, “I don’t want to lose my paid position.”

[1]. I NEVER KNEW YOU – THE SETTING

How awful those words will be for those who hear them. The setting for the Matthew 7:23 verse will be those who believe they have done the right things and followed God. This is what they say – {{Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, DID WE NOT prophesy in Your name, AND IN YOUR NAME cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?”}}. This opens up a critical area for acceptance with God. It will not be on the basis of performed works or activity, but as we would learn later on in the Gospels, the basis is RELATIONSHIP.

The setting for Matthew 25:41 is the judgement at the Second Coming when the sheep and goats face the Messiah. How they treated the Jewish saints in the Tribulation described in Matthew 24 will determine the outcome of all this. These times are solemn and will be full of regret.

Those who keep up to date with current affairs and signs of the times, which we ought to do, know that the Middle East is a tinderbox at present. In my nation, the ruling Federal Government sides with the Palestinians (some with Hamas) and hates Israel. There is a hatred for Israel in the Government. I have written to a number of the Ministers in Government explaining the Genesis verse to them – {{Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you AND THE ONE WHO CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE. In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed,”}}. I have told them the curse of God rests on them, but it makes no difference to them. These will be among those who will hear from the lips of the Lord, “I never knew you. Depart from Me.”

[2]. LOOKING AT THE IMPLICATIONS

Having done the settings, I want to look at a couple of applications that arise. Many funeral and memorial services give false hope to the sorrowing ones. The celebrant says, “They are at rest now,” or, “They are with their maker,” even though some had no time for the Christian gospel. “They are watching down on us,” is another one. “They are free from sorrow,” is said if the person was suffering from pain and illness. The serious problem is that they have gone to another sorrow.

A church minister conducting a funeral service for one he knows was not a Christian can not/must not, give false hope to the grieving ones. It would be out of place, even wrong, and considered distasteful for the minister to say, “I am sorry to say, on the basis of the bible, that person is in hell.” In my opinion the focus is on that person’s life and interests and achievements, AND a splendid opportunity to explain the gospel to the gathered ones in a delicate way. We are reminded of Paul here – {{1 Corinthians 9:16 “If I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of for I AM UNDER COMPULSION, FOR WOE IS ME IF I DO NOT PREACH THE GOSPEL.”}}

On the other hand, the reverse is most promising. That is to know you are truly “in the Lord” as one of His redeemed ones and when you depart this scene, then the great promise applies – to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-9. Jesus made it clear there are only two ways, found in this verse - Matthew 12:30. Two ways are two outcomes, two destinies, but only one is a glorious hope.