The difference of knowing and knowing about.

There’s a grim reality we need to face and stop avoiding as Christians. Not everyone we see at Mass on Sunday will be with us spending eternity in the presence of God. That’s right. I said it. There are people who go to church every weekend who will spend eternity in hell.

This bothers me. Every Sunday morning I arrive at church about 15 minutes early. I take a spot and kneel in prayer and reflection. Once I begin to feel saturated with the presence of Jesus, I take my seat, and I watch.

Before I go any further, I’m not judging anyone. I need to read what I’m about to write more than anyone I know. Also, I think we’ve allowed ourselves to become so pampered in an age where it’s wrong to offend someone, that nobody’s willing to speak truth anymore. We just assume that everyone already knows and if somehow they don’t, a priest or deacon will get them the memo.

As a recent convert to the Catholic Church, a Bible nerd, the father of a three-year-old little girl, and most of all, a sinner, that’s not going to cut it anymore. I sit at church as I watch close friends and people I’ve never met alike, and can’t help but wonder, will they be there in the presence of God when all this is over? Which one of the two answers are they going to hear? Then I think about my own past and even some events that have happened not too long ago and I’m led to even worry about myself.

While studying the Gospel of St. Matthew the other night, God’s Word did exactly what I think it’s supposed to from time to time. It smacked me right in the face. There was nothing I could do but hit my knees for a few minutes and then take a long, prayerful walk to the park. It’s my hope that the passage will have the same kind of effect on you.

Matthew 7:21-23    “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 in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.”

Now, before you rush off to the comment section or send me an email, I’ve spent enough time studying and reading commentary on this passage over the last two days to know a lot of biblical scholars say Jesus was simply referring to the false prophets and miracle workers of His time. That being said, I don’t see those terms in the passage when I read it. I see words such as, “Not everyone, many, and you. I also look at the Church in the present day and feel it’s easy to say the troubling times are similar, and I’m not only referring to the sex scandals.

My objective isn’t to get into that mess though. There are two points I took from this passage that hit me the hardest. That’s what I would like to focus on in the rest of this article.

Discovering and deepening a relationship with Jesus Christ has been a significant part of my life for over six years now. I wish I could tell you it has been what’s most important to me every day since then. Those who know me best will be the first to tell you my actions and many of the decisions I’ve made since 2012 simply do not demonstrate that. As a matter of fact, I’ve made many mistakes within the last six months that may cause some to wonder if I’m even “qualified” to write about Scripture. I’ve become one of the many Catholics who count on confession to make everything disappear from my conscience.

I don’t want to give the wrong idea here. Confession is a Sacrament that should be cherished for what it is, a blessing from God and a major ingredient in the life of Catholics. However, with me, I’m starting to notice there are a few things that seem to come up again and again as I prepare spiritually for confession every month. I couldn’t help but feel my palms get sweaty as I read Jesus’ statement, “But only the one who does the will of my Father.”

While the words “be perfect” aren’t mentioned, if I would simply make following God’s will more of a priority in my life, things would be a lot different than what they are. The struggles within my marriage wouldn’t be as significant as they have been. My finances would be drastically improved. I’m about positive I wouldn’t even be in the same career field as I am if God’s will would have been more of a priority in my life. Don’t take me wrong, I have an amazing wife, money in the bank, and an amazing job. That being said, while life isn’t meant to be easy, I’ve definitely made things more difficult, chasing after what I’ve thought would make me happy.

I’ve made sure I save about 30 minutes for God at least four or five days a week, but other than that, my own will has always been in control. Jesus doesn’t tell us here that life will be more difficult if we don’t follow the will of His Father. He says it’s the determining factor of who does and doesn’t get into heaven. Don’t tell me I’m taking the issue too seriously. I’m simply writing what the Scripture says.

That leads me to the second concern I have after reading this passage. Jesus says, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.” At first glance, the statement might seem a little confusing. I mean, these people obviously knew Jesus. They did mighty deeds in His name, including driving out demons. They obviously had to know who Jesus was in order to do all this, right?

As Catholics, we go to church at least every Sunday. We partake in the Sacraments. We listen to what the priests and deacons have to say about a particular day's readings during their homilies. Surely, this means each one of know exactly who Jesus is. I think this is where many of us fall into the dangerous category the individuals Jesus was describing fell in. We definitely know a lot about Jesus, but this isn’t the same as knowing Him personally.

The most important goal I have as a writer is inspiring Catholics to spend more time with their nose in a Bible. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a verse throughout Scripture that points to this necessity more. As Christians, we aren’t called to simply learn as much as we can about Christ while we have the ability and opportunity. His desire is for us to know Him.

Yes, there is much to learn through what others have to say. But, that will never be the same as spending time alone with Jesus through His word. We only get to know people on a personal level through listening to them and responding to what they have to say. This is exactly what happens when we spend time studying Scripture and learning to pray through it as we read.

This opens our hearts and minds to Jesus in a manner that isn’t possible by simply sitting in a pew. I’m not trying to knock church attendance in any way. Going to church every Sunday has to be a part of our weekly schedules. Don’t be the person that relies on the advice of someone else’s knowledge. Do not be the one who takes something for truth, simply because that’s what you are taught.

Believe something because the Holy Spirit has had the opportunity to whisper into your heart while you read. Talk about Scripture with others. Question what you read. Not as in whether or not it’s true, but ponder God’s Word in a way that leads you to apply it in your daily life. By doing this, you provide yourself with an opportunity to get to know Jesus good enough to hear the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”