I suppose that the method we use depends a lot on the article which we are trying to evaluate. For example, some things might be valuable in the short-term, but not in the long term. In that light there is a general test which I think can be applied to everything. There is short-term value, long-term value, and then there is really, really, really long-term value. Perhaps the true test of something’s worth will be the value of that it has the moment that you die. A car, a house, a bank account, and those electronics that you bought on Friday will have a certain value at the moment of your death. But that value will be one thing to your heirs, and something entirely different to you. And by the way, what about those electronics which you bought on Black Friday 2011? You thought at the time that you picked up the best of the very best at a huge savings. And at that moment that might have been true. But today that technology is obsolete, and you might be able to buy the same thing for half of the bargain price that you paid a year ago. And what about the many intangibles in your life? Perhaps you paid a high price to create a friendship with a certain person; was he worth the expense? What is the value of your health? What is the value of your faith, your peace of mind, your freedom or your sense of forgiveness? How valuable will all these things be when you stand before God? That is a very important question to consider before you come to stand before the eternal Judge.
In this scripture, we see people at God’s assay office weighing the value of their most prized possessions. What is the meaning of the words “in that day” in verse 22? Don’t you find it interesting that the Lord Jesus didn’t define the word or explain it any way? I think that it is referring to that day, somewhere beyond death, when those people will be standing before the Judge of heaven and earth. The Lord didn’t explain or define the day, because it was something well-known to His hearers. It is not often considered in our more secular, irreligious world, but it was near to the minds of people in Jesus’ day. “There’s a great day coming, a great day coming, there’s a great day coming by and by. When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left. Are your ready for that day to come?” In the Bible we often see people pictured “in that day” – or thereabouts. For example, in Luke 16 we see one standing “in that day” with less than a drop of water on tongue. Belshazar drank wine from God’s sacred cups and in a few minutes was “in that day” before Jehovah. John talks of saints before the judgment seat “in that day” naked through lack of concern for the things of God. We learn from the Bible that riches, honor, pleasure, success, associations, activities – everything that we value – should be set in the light of “that day.” This is an excellent test for our religious profession as well. Let’s notice more closely the people described here.
Recognize first of all the ABUNDANCE of their religion.
I’m sure that they were not ashamed to claim the name of some synagogue and their membership there. I meet people all the time who attempt to boast about their church. They may have all kinds of reasons for extolling their particular assembly. Maybe it’s its size, or the fame of their pastor, or the quality of their entertainers. Sometimes it is because or their social programs, or youth programs, or their dental plan. But often those people, rarely admit to attending church, except when speaking to other religious people. They talk to me, because they think that I am religious. The fact is, it is just not politically correct to be an active, avid, inspired church member any more. It is politically correct to be politically correct, but not spiritually correct. It is easy to talk about Obama’s chronicles, but not Christ’s chronicles, Second Chronicles or Calvary Chronicles. Economics is an acceptable topic for conversation, but don’t let your conversation be filled with conversion. Apparently, the people of our text were different from the below average Christian of today. They apparently we not afraid to open their mouths to speak boldly or to boast about their religion.
They were also genuinely hard-working when it came to their religious exercise. They wore their religious Nikes and Reeboks with pride. I watched a few minutes of a “home makeover” television show the other day. I noticed that the producers blurred the names of the shoe brands that people were wearing. I wonder what they would have done with a t-shirt with John 3:16 printed on it? That was not a problem for the people of our scripture – they boasted of their religious brand-names. These people felt that they had all the spiritual gifts. They could prophesy with the best of them – Ezekiel, Daniel and Jeremiah. Or maybe it was that they could prophesy as well as Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyers and Charles Stanley. They had seen angels in the outfield and had near death-bed experiences. They were charter members of various religious societies. They had cast out demons with the sons of Sceva or just like Peter. Some might have been able to heal the sick and to speak in tongues. What is apparently more, they had done these things in the name of the Lord. Was that in the name of Christ Jesus, or Jehovah? That really doesn’t matter because as far as I am concerned there isn’t any difference.
Despite these things, the Bible clearly proves that such things do not prove the presence or power of God. Such things are not proof of the blessings of Jehovah and certainly not of the salvation of God. The Oracle at Delphi and the Witch of Endor could prophesy, but they were not servants of the Lord. The False prophet of Revelation will heal the sick and raise the apparently dead. Thousands speak in tongues while clinging to ungodly and unscriptural religious practices. Their lives shout out that they are children of Satan while their words say they are children of God. There are very few rules in Satan’s spiritual warfare. He will even feign defeat in order to bring about another victory for himself. He will pretend to cast out a demon in order to send in a dozen more. And of course, he likes to pretend to be an angel of light. These people were saying: “Since we cast out demons, we must be in God’s army.” It just isn’t so, said the Lord Jesus. And what was true for those people may be equally true of you and me.
Those people were filled with practical and wonderful deeds. Throughout all Christendom there is the idea that God is pleased when you do good and refuse to do evil. And while this is undoubtedly true, it must be kept in its proper context. The “do unto others” idea is not the narrow door through which we pass on our way to eternal life. The text clearly shows that a life of service does not merit heaven for anyone. From page 1 to page 315 in my New Testament, I read that “by grace are we saved through faith….” These people may have been marvelous humanitarians. But no amount of spirituality or self-sacrifice is able to overcome, undo, reverse, erase or otherwise solve our natural wickedness and alienation from God. We cannot prove a godly spiritual condition by the volume of our religious noise. What we all need is the grace of God not gracefulness of service.
Beside these things these people were generally considered to be orthodox in their faith. Three times here they claimed the name of the Lord. They had most of their ducky little doctrines all lined up in a row. Do you think that they held to the doctrine of the virgin birth and deity of Christ? Remember that Jesus is speaking primarily to people who claimed to be His disciples. Did they believe in the inspiration of the Bible and the reality of Satan and of Hell? Had they read “The Fundamentals” and nodded their assent?
Basically you could not find a more religious group of people than those whom the Lord described here. Never was it proven that their religious position was folly. If they were liars and hypocrites, no one ever detected their inconsistencies. If they were self-deceived by the beauty of their lives, apparently neither God nor man ever made them doubt their condition.
But they were fatally mistaken.
While sincerity is a wonderful virtue – something to be practiced each and every day of our lives – it is not the answer to the problems of sin in this life and in the face of eternity. People are so illogical when it comes to their eternal souls. How often is it thought, “If I do my best; if I am sincere in my worship, God won’t be too hard on me.” Beloved, sincerity is as effective with God as it is with the mortgage company. Sincerely doesn’t pay the bills or satisfy the IRS. Good intentions don’t fill the gas tank or kill the bodily infection. Sincerity has literally killed more people than it has helped. You have read of highly religious people who stop taking their insulin, sincerely believing that God would heal them if they step out in faith. God may very well heal them, but unfortunately they may have to die in order to be healed.
Proverbs 14:12 says that “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Moses had good intentions when he hit the rock expecting to strike water. In one way, Eve meant well as she bit into that beautiful fruit – she was sincere. Let me remind you of the etymology of the English word “sincerity”? It comes out of Latin where “sine” meant “without.” Originally “sincerity” meant “without wax.” A man who builds houses might cover mistakes that he makes with little tricks of the trade. A painter might repaint something that he didn’t feel was well done. And unscrupulous sculptors might cover over their mistakes with a bit of colored wax. “Sincerity” says that there is no cover up here; this carries absolute integrity. One day all the wax will be melted off our lives, and its true colors, flaws and sins will be revealed. Our lives, intentions and deeds, will be put to the test – the assay fires will define our value. Our true relationship with God will be revealed without gloss, tarnish, shine or unnecessary vocabulary. And like the people of our text, that revelation may even be a revelation to ourselves.
And obviously, what a terrible way to make that discovery.
Christ Jesus spoke with omniscience, seeing those people standing before God “in that day.” Death will then be behind them, and as Hebrews 9:27 says judgment follows death for every man. There is a sense in which death instantly freeze-dries its prey. The spiritual condition of a man will be sealed eternally at that moment. There will be no second chance for heaven; there is no purgatory.
What a terrible way to learn of one’s true and eternal estate. They had pictured the best for themselves, but they ended up with the worst. It might be entirely different for the openly wicked. The murderer electrocuted for his crime, doesn’t expect too much from the Lord. The alcoholic who has destroyed his marriage, his kids and his life, may enter eternity with no hope for pity or for AA – he may properly think of himself as unworthy of salvation. But pity the poor person who never heard of his need before God. He had attended the First Church of the Feel Good Religion, and he felt fine all his life. He had heard the preaching of Dr. Do Good, and he became a first-class disciple of that false prophet. He thought that everything was in great shape before Jehovah.
Picture your closest friend putting a cloth sack over your face and holding the rope at your hanging. These people thought that Jesus was their friend and Saviour; but far too late they learn that He is their Judge. The one whom they claimed to love and worship will be saying, “Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire.” They had been thoroughly religious, but Christ had been forced outside of their particular religion. They had pictured it as so perfect that there was no need of Christ. So He says, “I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity.”
What terror is implied in those words. Depart from me without ever having any hope of return. Matthew 25:41 expands this thought: “Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels.” “Depart from me,” says the Creator, Sustainer of the world, and lover of mankind.
May YOU never have to hear those words.
Rather listen now to some words of contrast as found in Isaiah 1:18. “Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Is your life filled with religion but apart from the Saviour? Religion is one of the most useless and invaluable things ever prized by man. It may be considered extremely important today, but religion without Christ will be valueless one moment after death. Only Jesus Christ can forgive your and heal your soul. Are you resting on the blood-covered chest of the Saviour this morning?
Repent before God, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Empty yourself of your pride, your prayers, and your religious preferences. You need the holy, righteous and perfect Saviour – the Lamb of God who gave Himself a ransom for many. Are you a part of those many? You may prove it by humbly clinging to Christ Jesus for your salvation.