Have you ever thought you were on the right path, only to realize later that you were heading in the wrong direction? That was my story. For most of my life, I thought I understood who God was. I believed in His existence, prayed when life got tough, and occasionally went to church in an attempt to seek Him. But deep down, I kept Him at a distance, relying on my own assumptions about who He was.
I lived nearly 50 years like this—years marked by struggle without understanding, blessings without gratitude, and missed opportunities to share God’s love with the people around me, including my own dad. Now, I look back on those decades with a heavy heart. I regret not following God’s purpose sooner. I think of loved ones I could have introduced to Christ and moments I could have spent serving His kingdom. Instead, I wandered, blind to the relationship He was calling me to. It wasn’t until I finally began to listen to God, instead of presuming I already knew Him, that my life began to change.
One passage of Scripture strikes me as the most terrifying in all of the Bible: “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 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 in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23). These words cut straight to the heart of what it means to truly follow Jesus. They serve as a warning to all who think they are saved but have never experienced the life-transforming relationship that comes from knowing and being known by Him.
For years, I believed that knowing about God and doing certain “religious” things was enough. I thought being a good person and occasionally seeking Him when I felt lost would count for something. But Jesus’ words in this passage reveal the terrifying truth: It is possible to believe you are saved, to even perform great works in His name, and still hear Him say, “I never knew you.” Salvation is not about outward appearances or occasional acts of faith. It is about a deep, personal relationship with Jesus that transforms every part of your life.
When Jesus says, “I never knew you,” He is not referring to intellectual knowledge. He is speaking of an intimate relationship, one in which He knows us as His own. In another passage, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him. This is the kind of relationship He desires with each of us—not a distant acknowledgment of His existence, but a personal, abiding connection where we hear His voice, follow His lead, and surrender our lives to Him.
The problem is, many of us confuse “knowing about” God with truly knowing Him. This was my mistake for decades. I believed in His existence and was aware of His teachings, but my heart remained unchanged. I never surrendered my will to His or allowed Him to transform my life. My faith was superficial, rooted in convenience rather than conviction. I see now that I was relying on my own understanding, not realizing that the heart of the gospel is not just believing that God exists but entering into a relationship with Him.
Jesus made it clear that salvation is not about what we do for Him but about being born again. In His conversation with Nicodemus, He says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3). Nicodemus, a religious leader, struggled to understand this, much like I did for so long. But Jesus explained that being born again is not a physical rebirth but a spiritual transformation—a work of the Holy Spirit that changes our hearts and aligns us with God’s will.
For nearly 50 years, I lived without understanding this. I thought I could figure life out on my own, but my heart was hardened by sin. Scripture tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). I couldn’t fix myself. No amount of good deeds or religious effort could change the condition of my heart. It wasn’t until I surrendered to God and repented of my sin that I experienced the new life Jesus offers.
Repentance is more than feeling sorry for our sins. It is a complete turning away from sin and turning toward God. It is an acknowledgment that we cannot save ourselves and a willingness to let Him lead us. When I finally repented, I experienced a freedom and peace I had never known before. I began to see God not just as a distant figure but as my Savior, my Shepherd, and my Father. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Looking back, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for His grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” My salvation is not something I earned or deserved. It is entirely the result of His love and mercy. Yet, His grace doesn’t leave us where we are. It transforms us, teaching us to live in a way that reflects His character. As Paul writes, “The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:11-12).
The more I reflect on Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7, the more I am compelled to examine my own heart. Have I truly surrendered every part of my life to Him? Am I living in obedience to His will? These questions are not meant to inspire fear but to drive us closer to Him. As Paul urges in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
For those who read this and feel unsure, take heart. It is not too late. The same God who transformed my life is ready to do the same for you. Confess your sins, turn to Him in repentance, and invite Him into your life. Scripture promises that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This is the beauty of the gospel: no matter how far we have wandered, His arms are always open.
The scariest verse in the Bible is a warning, but it is also an invitation. It reminds us that salvation is not about religion, rituals, or reputation. It is about knowing Jesus and being known by Him. Today, you have the opportunity to respond. Will you choose to be known by Him? Will you let Him transform your heart and lead you into the abundant life He promises? The choice is yours, and the time is now.