Ultimate Embarrassment

            What are some of your most embarrassing moments? As a young child, my Mother decided to take me to the movies at a local theater. It was during World War II and they always showed a newsreel at the beginning of the movie. There was a story about Chiang Kai Shek, who was an important ally for the US. As his picture was on the screen, I shouted out as loud as I could, “Look, Mom, its ToJo.” The reference to ToJo was connected with a man who was a part of the Japanese military at the time. My Mother was so embarrassed that we immediately got up and left the theater. I never did see the movie There are some things in this life that cause embarrassment. It may be less these days than it was during World War II, but nonetheless, there are those occasions that can cause you to be embarrassed these days. The worst case of embarrassment will occur for many at the judgment seat of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:23 says, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

           In the passage, people will try to plead their case by saying what the did for God but the reply of the Lord Jesus Christ will be severe as He simply says, “Depart from me...I never knew you.” Religion today is filled with people who simply won't take the exhortation of the Lord Jesus Christ on how to get to heaven. Instead, they will try to come up with their own fanciful ways that will always include self works of some sort or another. The scene as described in the Gospel of Matthew is not a place of bargaining but a sentencing one. It will not be a place where you can come up with an argument to try to persuade God to include you in heaven's population. Instead, the participants will all be asked to leave and will be taken away to eternal judgment simply because they did not know the Lord Jesus Christ. How embarrassing will that be? It will be the worst kind of embarrassment. It is true that we may be embarrassed at something on this earth that will not have too many eternal consequences. I may be embarrassed to find one blue sock and one brown sock on my feet as I am out in public. I may be embarrassed when I spill spaghetti on the front of my white shirt. I may be embarrassed by any number of small and insignificant things but the worst one is the one that Jesus mentioned in the above passage. This is one time that you want to be sure about your eternal destination in order to not be embarrassed. The decision needs to be made in this life and not one second after death. Then, it will be too late. The time you decided to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation is important in that it needs to be done before you leave this life. It makes no difference when it occurs but only that it DOES occur. Praise God today that He is still calling those to be saved. Don't put it off or you will experience the ultimate embarrassment.