Who You?
I recently had the privilege of hearing brother Dan Jenkins speak at the Freed-Hardeman University Lectureship. As usual, he did an outstanding job of presenting important truths from the word of God. The topic assigned to him had to do with the superiority of Christ, especially as it relates to His authority.
It might not surprise those who read this that some of my thoughts are based (maybe somewhat loosely) on some of the material I was privileged to hear. Toward the end of my thoughts, though, I plan to turn the tables somewhat and make an application that brother Dan did not make.
As a part of brother Jenkins’ presentation, he told about a practice of some people with whom he had done some mission work in the past. As I remember it, these people had a “working knowledge” of the English language, but, at the same time, they had unique ways of expressing themselves.
This uniqueness demonstrated itself when somebody told or asked one of those people to do something. The question that was regularly asked at times like this was:
“Who you?”
These two words were intended to question the authority of the one making the request or giving the order. Apparently, if that authority could not be established and/or was not recognized, the request or order could be ignored.
Brother Jenkins did a masterful job in establishing the fact that Jesus has, as He said, “All authority” (Matt. 28:18). That being the case, it is our duty to carry out His instructions for us and not to question Him.
I am reminded that the One who has all authority made another statement that should cause all of us to do some serious self-examination. The particular statement I have in mind has to do with what some will hear the Lord, Himself, say on the Day of Judgment.
The statement is found in a context in which Jesus stressed the absolute necessity of doing the Father’s will (cf. Matt. 7: 21). It should not surprise us to learn that this is connected with hearing the words of Jesus and doing them (cf. Matt. 7:24-27).
It is within this context that we learn what some people will hear on “that last great day.” These people will be those who will claim to have done many great things in the name of Jesus. Sadly, these people will hear,
“I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23).
Wouldn’t it be a shame to spend a lifetime rejecting, ignoring, and/or trying to alter the word of God and then to hear Jesus say (in effect) on the Day of Judgment,
Who you?
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
