One of the most sobering passages in the Bible is found at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. Jesus pleaded with His disciples to “Enter by the narrow gate,” because “many” will miss it and “go in” the wide gate “by” the broad way to destruction (7:13). Jesus used that same word—“many”—nine verses later to reveal what would happen on the judgment day: “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (7:22-23).
These people had convinced themselves that what they were doing was right. And, without even considering that their actions could actually be wrong, they marched right into eternity without the Lord. Could we do the same thing today? Are we certain that what we’re doing is right in the eyes of the Lord? Rather than engage in actions that “seem right” (Prov. 14:12), let us engage in actions that are “the will of [our] Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).