A Rude Awakening

 

When I think of a rude awakening, I think of the twin bell alarm clocks or digital clock radios found in every home in the 80s. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Every morning was a rude awakening. But more often, “a rude awakening” refers to the sudden realization of a shocking, unpleasant truth. That moment when our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations are upended by harsh reality.

 

We’ve all had these moments show up in everyday life:

• The “dream job” that’s not what you imagined 

• Thinking you found “the one”… until you really get to know them 

• Assuming you can eat whatever you want… without consequences 

• Finding out living on your own isn’t what you expected

• Confident you can live comfortably on a fixed income… until life happens

 

These real life rude awakenings pale in comparison to the rude awakening of those at judgment who called Jesus “Lord” all their lives but never truly lived in submission to Him.

 

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). In their defense, many point to what they did in the name of Jesus (v. 22) as evidence they belong to Him. But Jesus will tell them plainly, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (v. 23).

 

Key is the contrast between “he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (v. 21) and “you who practice lawlessness” (v. 23). Regardless of the “impressive” Christian looking things they claimed, Jesus says it was not the will of the Father. Luke’s account adds clarity, “why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Lk. 6:46).

 

Culturally today, calling Jesus Lord and truly making Him Lord are watered down at best and reshaped at worst, where a relationship with Christ is defined by our own liking and praised as the only thing that matters, while obedience and surrender to God’s will are pushed aside, though the two cannot be separated.

 

Take heed. If we allow our allegiance to Jesus Christ to be shaped by the voices of modern Christian culture, then that Day will not be losing a few jewels on our crown, as some contend, but simply the rude awakening of “Depart from Me, for I never knew you.”

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Written by Craig Ressler