How important is it to know, understand , and do the Father's will in
one's life? Jesus gave many warnings about the fate of people who
refused to do his will in their lives. The following statements of Jesus
clearly show that knowing, understanding, and doing the Father's will
is so important that not knowing, understanding, and doing his will in
one's life to the best one's ability (Eph.6:6; Col.4:12) separates one
from a relationship with Jesus Christ and prevents one from entering the
Kingdom of Heaven:"Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the will of the
Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, have
we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out devils and in
your name done many wonderful works? But, I will say to them, I never
knew you:depart from me, you that work lawlessness"(Matt.7:21-23 KJV
Para.). See also Rom.12:2.There are many people today that sincerely
think they are doing the will of God, because they use the name of Jesus
to teach a message about God or seem to have spiritual insight or the
ability to perform supernatural works. However, most of these people do
not truly know God, and many of those who do know God are living in
disobedience to him. Jesus said that only those who are truly doing the
will of the Father will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. See Matt.25:1-13;
Rev.1:18-20; 2:1-29; 3:1-6, 14-22.
In the end of the age, there will be many of the Father's elect children who truly know the Father's will concerning their lives, but for some reason they will refuse to do what they know they should do. To these unfaithful servants Jesus says the following:"And that servant, who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself, and did not perform according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes"(Lk.12:47 para.). When the warnings in Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 12:47 are viewed in the context of the punishment that will be administered to the Father's elect children who comprise the six churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation for their failure to perform his will in their lives, the seriousness of knowing, understanding, and performing the Father's will to the best of one's ability should motivate one to seek his will in their life.In order to obtain eternal life and the spiritual power and glory that the Father wants each of his first-born to have, one must make a serious commitment and effort to put away one's former evil behavior and replace it with the Father's righteous ways.
The way to accomplish
this type of commitment and behavioral change is through using the
power of the holy spirit:"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as
fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Whereforebe you not unwise, but understanding what the will of the
Lord is"(Eph.5:15-17 KJV). See Rom.8:12-13; Col.1:7-10; 3:5-10.Each
person whom the Father has called to salvation in this age must know and
prove what his will is for their life. This demands that one put forth
the time and effort to determine what the Father's will is and is
not.If a person does not know what is expected of them, they cannot
perform what is expected. Therefore, in order to serve and please the
Father and fulfill his purpose for one's life, a person must know
what he expects of them and how to accomplish what is expected. And in
order to know this, one must diligently seek this knowledge:"Teach me
to do your will; for you are my God: Your spirit is good; lead me
into the land of righteousness"(Psa.143:10 KJV).