Never heard of it? Really?

I met Mr. Ken while helping an elderly couple move their belongings into a storage unit. It was a warm day, yet he wore a jacket. On the back and one of the sleeves, it had the label “The North Pole.” He looked at me and said, “You need a jacket, it may get cold later on.” I put mine on. He walked closer, glanced at the small label sewn into my jacket, and said, “Kirkland? Never heard of it.”

While waiting in the office of Dr. Uta, my dentist, I found myself entertained by a man with a strong desire to talk. After discussing the weather and the tortures of root canals, he said, “I was born in Colorado but grew up in Brooklyn, NY. That’s why I still have this accent. You have an accent too, I can tell. What’s your story?” I replied, “I was born in Romania.” “Really?” he said. “Never heard of it.”

While waiting in the restaurant’s hall to be seated, a friendly older man introduced himself. “I’m the senior pastor of First so-and-so Church,” he said. “I overheard you saying that you’re a pastor too. Which church do you serve?” I answered, “Seventh-day Adventist Church.” He glanced down at my shoes and said, “Seventh-day what? Never heard of it.”

Reading Mat.7:22-23 for my morning devotional I got something more dramatic than playing a little game of pretending ignorance regarding certain brand name, country or church denomination. Jesus warns that many still standing in the hallway of God’s kingdom, pretending they 

never heard of His Robe of Righteousness' brand, 

never paid attention to the Love-and-sacrifice language of heaven, and 

never considered the "minority report" regarding “Whole-Foods” church teachings.

Be ready for the day when Christ will either say, “I never knew you,” or, in the most glorious of moments, “I know you, come in”.

Talk to Him. 

Listen to Him. 

Walk with Him. 

Today.