"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only he 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 perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers' " (Matthew 7:21-23).
Yesterday we heard the tragic case of 'Hank', who did many things in order to try to make himself right with God. He went to church and heard the Word, but never believed it. He did not deny himself to bear the cross of Christ. He
chose his own crosses, and carried them himself. He did not do the will of God: "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day" (John 6:40).
In the Bible we meet another doer of good deeds. Her name was Tabitha. Tabitha was ill, and died young. At her funeral, many people spoke about how she had helped them with her kind words and deeds. She made clothes for widows and orphans. She raised money for the poor and gave to the needy. Jesus said that Christians are like branches on a vine. Connected to the vine, they bear much
fruit. Tabitha was not thinking about all her good works as being something that saved her. She was just celebrating her salvation in Christ. God gave Tabitha a special, rare gift. Through Peter, she was brought back to life. You can read about her in Acts 9:36-41.
That was 2000 years ago. Sometime after this, Tabitha must have died for a second time. That time, she would not have Peter to raise her up again. Tabitha met Jesus, and Jesus said to her, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you..." (Matthew 25:34). He recounted her acts of kindness, mercy, and charity. But Tabitha said, "When did I do those things for you?" And he said, "If you did it for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me (Matthew 25:40). So Christians will have this same experience, too. All who believe in the Son have
eternal life. Just as Tabitha now awaits another resurrection, we who have been brought from spiritual death to spiritual life look for that day of Jesus' return, when he will raise us, too.
