Jesus Christ was the most successful man that ever lived. He set His goal high, and achieved it without injury to others. In fact, His life has been the most beneficial to man, more than any other. His attitude and goal of life are fairly summarized in His own words, recorded in John 6:38: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” Doing the will of the Father was paramount in His life. Dependent upon it was the salvation of a lost human race. Without fail, Jesus fulfilled all that was demanded of Him to procure man’s redemption.
As our example, we should be of the same mind, even as the apostle Paul encouraged early Christians of his day: “Be ye followers [imitators] of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1) Our goal foremost in life should be to do the will of God. In fact, this is our created purpose: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccl. 12:13)
Jesus said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21; emphasis added.)
Only as we fully and faithfully subscribe to His will, to keep His commandments, can it be said that we know the Lord. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him.” (1 John 2:3-5)
The Importance of Doing His Will
The importance of doing the Lord’s will is further demonstrated by observing what is obtained thereby. Observe:
- One cannot enter heaven without it: not everyone “shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21)
- It prepares us for heaven: “Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and many enter in through the gates into the city.” (Rev. 22:14)
- It enables us to receive the promise: “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Heb. 10:36)
- It makes us members of the family of God: “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” (Mark3:35)
- It causes God to hear our prayers: “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
- It results in our abiding for ever: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
As important as doing God’s will is—without it God will not hear our prayers, one is not a child of God, is not prepared to enter heaven, will not make it into heaven, will not abide in eternal life—it would seem that everyone would do His will. Yet, and sadly so, not everyone will. Jesus taught that some will hear the truth, but without any interest in it will immediately turn away in rejection. Some will hear the truth gladly, and will do His will for a time, but because of opposition and persecution will turn back. Some will receive and do His will, but will become attracted by worldly things and thereby be enticed away from obeying God to fulfill their own desires. Of course, a few will receive His will and will faithfully obey, overcoming the trials and temptations that come with an effort to live and do right. Theirs will be all the blessings stated above. (See Matt. 13:18-23.)
Then there will be some who fail to do the will of God, perhaps in the first group Jesus describes, because they will have been deceived into thinking that “doing the will of God” has nothing to do with one’s salvation. They will hear the faithful proclaim the word, but they will turn a deaf ear … no need to listen. Why? Because they have been taught that God brings His blessings upon only a few, which has nothing to do with obeying His will. In fact, they have been taught that to do God will is to reject His grace. They call obedience “salvation works.” Never mind that the Scriptures teach and emphasize the need for one to do the will of God. They will believe a lie that leaves them lifeless, thinking that there is nothing one can do by which he can be saved. God has predestined everyone either to be saved or lost … so they have been told. So they remain indifferent, passive toward the will of God. They believe a fallible false teacher and make God a liar, when they ought to let God be true and any, and all, who contradict what He says to be seen as liars. (2 Thess. 2:10-12)
It is truly sad that is spite of the fact that God has created them with intelligence, and an ability to believe and to do His will, some will deliberately and blindly refuse to consider the Scriptures that should impress them with the fact that all men need to do the will of God!