Republished Thursday, July 16, 2020
Friday, January 19, 2018
Denied entry
This devotional is being republished for our Guyanese audience especially in the wake of the Government of the United States of America taking action to deny entry to some Guyanese government officials. “At a press briefing on Wednesday July 15, 2020 [U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo] said Washington was restricting the U.S. visas of “individuals responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Guyana.”” – Reuters
Matthew 7:23
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
I woke up to a story this morning that Chris Christie, the recent former governor of the state of New Jersey, was reportedly denied access to a special VIP entrance at Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday. I am sure that Christie had a reasonable expectation that he could still use the VIP entrance especially since he arrived with a New Jersey State Police security detail. I am also sure that many persons, especially those who supported him politically over the years, would be surprised, even disappointed, by the treatment he received at the airport, especially since he was such a larger than life figure in New Jersey politics recently, with many expecting that he could have been successful in his run for the White House.
Denial of entry is an everyday occurrence for many at the various entry points we visit. Many persons are denied entry to countries daily. Some refugees are denied entry because of their country of origin or because the host country can no longer support the growth of refugee camps. Some persons are denied entry because of their political involvement. Other persons are denied entry because of their criminal record. And still, some persons are denied entry because of their religious affiliation.
Today, the denial of entry on the basis of religion is a hot button topic for policymakers, immigration officials, and human rights activists alike because of the so-called Muslim Ban on travel to the United States of America, imposed by current President Donald Trump. Based on your political views you may or may not agree with Mr Trump’s decision, but you can certainly understand his motivation. At present, the majority of the acts of terrorism seem, on the surface at least, to be perpetrated by people of one religion.
The denial of entry on religious grounds has always been with us in one form or the other in the world from time immemorial. Often, we may be disturbed by it but not surprised by it. However, the denial of entry that we encounter in the short passage in Matthew 7:21-23 is surprising. The persons being denied entry into the Kingdom of Heaven seem to be a group of Christian ministers with some track record to show in their ministry.
These ministers seemed to have operated with a prophetic anointing, they said in their defence at the port of entry, “‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name?” They also seem to have had successful deliverance ministries, they argued further at their defence that they had “cast out demons in [Jesus] name.” Finally, it seems that they clearly had performed many miracles, declaring “[we have] done many wonders in Your name?” Matthew 7:22
According to the record, these ministers were denied entry, being told by Jesus that they should depart because “I never knew you;” Matthew 7:23. This is not just a surprising development, it is also very disturbing. It means that many of the persons we often follow could wind up being denied entry. Our assumptions are that the ministers we follow in our churches will be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven, why else would we follow them?
This passage comes right after the discussion about ministers who “who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15, and ministers whose fruit must be examined to really make a determination about who they are.
There are many who are being deceived every day. The Apostle Peter is worked up over this issue in the second chapter of his second letter to the churches. Peter wrote, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” The scary thing is that he continued “And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” 2 Peter 2:1-2
Recently, I have been working with a few persons who escaped the clutches of a false teacher. As I listened to their stories, “Fruit stories” if you like, it became clear to me that, even though those persons are hurting, God has brought them out. But it also became clear to me that the false teacher had been given over to a depraved mind, there was no other explanation. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;” Romans 1:28
The fate of the depraved false teachers is sealed. Peter said, “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.” 2 Peter 2:20. They would be denied entry.
Self-deception is a very bad thing, but I believe that, after a while, these people believe their own fables. Mr Christie seemed to be convinced that it was still ok for him to use the VIP entrance and I guess many of these ministers are deluded too, thinking, foolishly, that admission at the final port of entry must be guaranteed.
Think on these things:
- How could you be sure that your church leaders are genuine?
- Are you prepared to examine the teaching you receive to see that it lines up with the truth?
- If you found out that your minister was to be ‘denied entry’ how would that affect you?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would be able to recognise false teaching and not be deceived by those who peddle it.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex