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Dec 14, 2022 18:30pm
Do You Know Jesus?
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On every episode of Scooby Doo, the gang is terrified of the monster. They run here and there trying to escape it, all while trying to solve the mystery. The thing looks and acts like a real monster, but in the end, they pull off a mask to reveal the true culprit. The masked criminal really never was a monster to begin with. He was a phony.

In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus tells the parable of the good stewards. The master has three servants. They each receive a different portion to make good use of until the master returns, at which time they will give an account for what they have done with it.

Two of the servants do honorably and use the money to make more. But there is one servant that not only didn’t make any more money with what the Master had left him, he hid it away.

He was even confident in his work, or lack thereof, as the Master returned.

What I want us to understand about this passage is that this is not about working for our salvation. Clearly, it was freely offered and given to the men. But they had to choose what they would then do with that. With salvation comes great gifts, which also comes with great responsibility. Two of the servants accepted the gifts and chose to use them greatly. And they were rewarded accordingly.

But one hid it away. In this test, the phony has been revealed. This man was never a Christian in the first place. He may have pretended to be or put on a front to look like one, but the test revealed who he truly was. What did he do with what the Lord offered him? He hid it away. He had no desire to increase it. And his punishment was declared accordingly.

“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:29-30)

“Him that hath not” – there was no salvation found in him. He is cast into darkness and a place where there is great sorrow and pain, this place being Hell.

If you have received the gift of salvation from Jesus, not only should you be humbled and grateful, but, naturally, you should desire to share it with others.

Let’s get to the heart of the matter. How many people have you shared with about what God has done for you?

Have you instead taken what was offered to you and hidden it?

Would people even know you are a Christian by your lifestyle? Does it match what the Bible teaches a follower of Christ should look like?

Or will you stand before God on the day of judgment and He pull off your mask to reveal the phony inside?

“Depart from me, I never knew you”.

I pray this is not you. I beg of you to stop this morning and truly search your heart. Do you truly know Jesus, not just as your Savior, but as your Lord? Jesus said that if you love Him you will keep His commandments. One of the greatest is that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. Do we truly pursue Him over ourselves? Why would we?

Because He is worthy!

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