Abbey was sixteen years old and lived in a suburb of Port of Spain, Trinidad. At the time of this story, I was actually staying with the family for a few days while visiting and preaching the gospel in that country. Her parents were believers who loved the Lord Jesus, and I had always thought that Abbey was a believer too. Here’s why: She was always respectful when the Bible was opened and read. She would often ask questions and be a part of the discussion when it was read in her parents’ home. She was always at Sunday school and other Bible meetings. She had always enjoyed singing the hymns and gospel choruses with her beautiful voice. She would always enter into conversation about the Lord Jesus and His great love and work on the cross. And she seemed to really enjoy being around other believers. But let me tell you what happened on a certain Sunday evening.
It was a Sunday night, and the gospel had been lovingly and faithfully presented. A gospel message from the Bible and an invitation to come to Christ is given every week at this hall. This particular night the speaker gave special importance to the love of God and the love of Christ, with John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) specially emphasized: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Galatians 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) was also read: “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” As I listened to the faithful message, I prayed that there would be someone saved as a result of the living Word of God being preached.
As the meeting ended, I was both surprised and delighted as Abbey stood up in front of everyone there and confessed that she had come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour during the service that night. For one hour we celebrated together. We sang, we thanked the Lord Jesus that Abbey was now truly saved, and there were many tears of joy.
If you had asked me earlier that day if I thought that Abbey was saved, I would have said, “Yes.” But Abbey had not been saved! She had only made it look like she was a believer. Yes, we can pretend to be real but still not have our sins washed away in the blood of the Lord Jesus. There were people like that when the Lord Jesus was here on earth, and about them He plainly said, “This people [come near] unto Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:88This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8)). They made out that they were true believers and may have fooled many people, but the Lord knew exactly what was in their hearts. We may fool our parents, our brothers and sisters, our Sunday school teacher and many others. But remember, we cannot fool the Lord! “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:77But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)).
Judas Iscariot is another example of one who pretended to be a true disciple of Jesus but was not real. He eventually betrayed Jesus with a kiss. So clever was Judas in his coverup that none of the other disciples suspected that he was not a true believer—that he did not believe Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. But when they were all together for the passover supper, Jesus exposed the lie that Judas was living by giving him a piece of bread after He had dipped it at the table. The secret was out!
After Judas betrayed Jesus, he took his own life, still an unbeliever. He will not be in heaven—he will spend eternity in “outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:1313Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13)). What about you?
ML-09/09/2012