TO BE RELIGIOUS IS NOT ENOUGH!

Dearly Beloved, TO BE RELIGIOUS IS NOT ENOUGH! “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). Here, in my part of the world (to be precise, in Nigeria), people are becoming more and more religious that religions have positively and negatively affected many spheres of life. Our streets are dotted with places of worship like churches, mosques and even at times shrines! Almost everybody is now a pastor, prophet, imam, or priest. Even many vehicles (including commercial ones) are tagged “clergy”. In spite of this religiosity, the society is getting worse every day with all sorts of perversion and corruption. Even, in the places of worship, perversion and corruption are prevalent to the extent that it is very difficult to ascertain true worshippers. Unfortunately, many religious leaders are accommodating and even perpetrating these acts of perversion and corruption. It seems Jesus Christ had known that religiosity will descend to this level when He queried, “...when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NIV). He had earlier warned that not everyone that claims to be religious would enter the kingdom of heaven. He knew that many would do many religious activities even in His name. However, He will disown them because they are doers of evil (see Matthew 7:21-23). Such people are honouring Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. They are worshipping Him in vain because their teachings are merely human rules (see Mark 7:6-7) and they are not ready to do His will. It is good that more and more people are becoming more religious every day. However, to be religious is not enough. Attending and being active in church or any other place of worship is not enough. You must be ready to really do the will of God (see also Matthew 12:50; Mark 3:35; Luke 11:28; John 6:40; 7:17; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:18; Hebrews 13:21; 1 Peter 2:15, 4:2; 1 John 3:21-24; Revelation 22:14). Only this will guarantee you a place in the kingdom of God. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).