MATTHEW 10:32-33: “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” NLT

OBSERVATION: What is the most important question in life? What is the one question that will determine your eternal future? What is the question that is answered more by how you live than by what you say? Let me share a story with you that will shed light on this question.

I was invited to join a man from our church in a prison ministry that he was involved in. It was really a full circle for me. When I was 19 years old and attending college, I participated in a prison ministry. I would go to the prison with my guitar, share some songs, and a short message. That was a lifetime ago. I had not set foot in a prison since those early years.

The prison I visited was not a maximum security prison. It was holding inmates whose sentences were about to end. They were facing release and entering society once again. We did not go to conduct a worship service and give testimonies. We went to walk in the prison yard and talk with the inmates one-on-one. I felt completely out of my comfort zone.

I am not a big guy. I am 5′ 9″ tall. I look like someone who goes to church. How could I relate to any of these men? Yet, this is why I was here. I pushed myself to begin talking with some of the inmates. What I learned next surprised me.

The inmates were used to having Christian groups talk with them. When I was sharing with one young man, he answered every question I asked him with perfect Sunday School answers. He claimed that Jesus was his Savior and that he read the Bible. He was going to be released soon and was confident he would do better this time around.

As I spoke with him, I prayed. I needed the Holy Spirit to guide me. I sensed he was telling me what he thought I wanted to hear. Then I was prompted to ask him the most important question of life. It is not, “Have you prayed and asked Jesus to be your Savior?” The most important question is,

“Is Jesus your Lord?“

He looked at me a bit puzzled. I asked, “Do you know what a Lord is?” He shook his head, “No.”The conversation changed. I was able to share with him the importance of giving everything to Jesus Christ, to let Jesus be the ruler and king of his life. Was Jesus Lord (ruler, king) over every decision in his life? Did he seek God’s guidance for every decision he made through the Word of God?

Was he confessing Jesus as Lord in both what he said and what he did?

I then had the privilege of sharing with this young man how I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord. I was religious, but I was living for myself. I needed to give everything to Jesus. I needed to begin living for Jesus. The atmosphere changed. He listened intently. I then asked him the most important question of life.

“Do you want to surrender to Jesus as Lord of your life?”

Would Jesus be Lord of all his decisions as he waited for his release? Would Jesus be Lord of all his decisions as he walked through the gates back into society? Would Jesus be Lord when he was greeted by old friends who would quickly try to pull him back into his old way of life? Would Jesus be Lord in how he spent his time once he was free?

Would he confess Jesus as Lord before all men?

Confessing Jesus as Lord is more than a confession from our lips. Jesus made this very clear.

Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” NLT

This young man bowed his head, confessed his sins, and asked Jesus to be Lord of his life!

Before anyone begins to object, saying – “Wait a minute! We are saved by grace, through faith, not by our works!” While that is correct, the flip side of the coin is also true. Salvation is more than saying a prayer. It is surrendering one’s life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is denying ourselves and taking up our cross to follow Him. True surrender to Jesus’ Lordship will bring visible change in the way we live. It is not only the confession of our mouths that God is interested in.

It is also the confession of our actions!

This is more than what we do. It is WHO we do it for? It is not a call to an external display of false piety. Rather, it is a call to a humble life, devoted to God, and evidenced as we serve others and give glory to Jesus Christ as Lord. It is seeking first His Kingdom, His Righteousness, and His Glory!

One day, we will all give an account for how we have answered the most important question of life. What will my answer be? Will my life confess Him before men?

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33 NLT)

Heavenly Father, help me to live my life, surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and confessing by my words and my actions that Jesus is Lord!

In Jesus’ Name!