'Who do you say that I am?'
by Rev. Benjamin Miller

But to the wicked God says: What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth, seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you? (Psalm 50:16-17)

There is a particular passage that has always been an impetus for me to consider my relationship with Christ. You might remember it from Matthew 7:21-23. Here Jesus teaches the multitudes about the outcome of a false profession. It is sad but true that this is a distinct possibility from God's Word. There will indeed be some who stand before the righteous face of Almighty God and will hear the solemn words of condemnation spoken about them. They might have done great things in life, but the only question that demands an answer has gone unanswered: Who do you say that I am?

I would like to take an opportunity to press this a bit further. I would argue that we bring shame and reproach upon God when we call upon His name without applying His sacrifice to our lives. The psalmist in the above passage indicates as much in his writing. Truly, what right do we have to the covenantal relationship of God, to His blessings, and to His presence when our whole life testifies to the truth of our relationship with God? How can God's people loathe His chastisement, avoid His commandments, and dishonor His expectations and expect God not to reply in anger? It will not happen. We dare not mock God with our lives. He sees right through the skin, through the sternum, and right into each of our hearts. We cannot hide from the eyelids of Him who tries the hearts and deeds of mankind. He knows the truth.

Sadly, we do, too. There is no amount of good deeds or church attendance that can add weight to our balance with God. In reality, all He asks is that we give our hearts and lives into His service. God has provided for our eternity through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The rest of Christian living is an exercise in the implementation of the spiritual truths of God's Word. But that is a decision that only you, reader, can make in your life. Let me very clear: the world might see you as a beacon of hope and light in this world, but what does that matter if the Judge of mankind asks us to depart from His presence?

And if you are a child of God today, are you living that testimony in your life? Do your deeds back up the testimony of your lips? We dare not expect God's favor if our lives are unfaithful to what we know good and well He has called us to be. The psalmist continues in verse 22 by reminding us that we ought to consider our lives lest God should tear us apart in His righteous indignation.

I have a dream of a church and of a people who have completely given themselves over to the worship of God. Can you even dare to imagine what this community would be like if we began to cry out to God and lay our lives firmly in His hands? The answer was given even before we knew the question. God has provided for our eternal destiny in the present. Christ has come to break the bondage of sin in my life and free me to life eternal. He has provided the same for you as well. Woe to all of us who rebel against Him and yet testify with our mouths that we are sons and daughters of God. There is a great judgment day coming for all of us. Can we stand boldly before His throne of grace firmly entrenched in the love He has shed abroad in our hearts through Jesus Christ His Son? You know the truth. So does God.