“I Never Knew You” – A Call to Relationship, Responsibility, and Restoration

Church, I want to start today with a passage that should make all of us pause and take a good look at our hearts. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says:

“Not every one 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. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I read that, it stops me in my tracks. These aren’t people who ignored God. These are people who thought they were doing His work. They preached. They cast out devils. They did “wonderful works.” But Jesus still said, “I never knew you.”

He didn’t say, “You never knew Me.” He said, “I never knew you.” That hits hard because it’s not about just going through the motions of Christianity. It’s about relationship.

And it makes me wonder: How often do we truly know someone—or even ourselves? You think you know someone, but then you see a side of them you never expected. We’re all human, and we all have struggles. That’s why the foundation of everything—our lives, our families, our friendships—has to be rooted in knowing God first.

1. Knowing God Is the Foundation

Let’s start here because nothing else matters if this isn’t in place.

You can’t truly know someone else—whether it’s a spouse, a friend, or a child—if you don’t know God first. Why? Because God is the only constant. People change, but God doesn’t. If you’re rooted in Him, you’ll have the wisdom and grace to navigate every other relationship.

Think about the Prodigal Son. He thought he could figure life out on his own, so he took his inheritance and left. But he ended up lost, broken, and empty. When he finally came home, his father didn’t just know him—he understood him. That’s the kind of relationship God wants with us.

Now, let’s ask ourselves: Do we really know God? I’m not asking if we know facts about Him. Do we know Him as Jehovah Jireh, our Provider, who supplies all our needs? Do we know Him as El Shaddai, the Almighty God, who is all-sufficient and full of power? Do we know Him as Jehovah Shalom, our Peace, who calms every storm in our hearts? Do we know Him as El Roi, the God who sees us, even in our darkest moments? Do we know Him as Adonai, our Lord and Master, who is in control of all things? Do we know Him as Jehovah Rapha, our Healer, who mends our brokenness and restores our health? Do we know Him as Elohim, the Creator, who made the heavens and the earth? Do we know Him as El Elyon, the Most High God, who reigns supreme over all? Do we know Him as Immanuel, God with us, who walks beside us in every moment?

When we know God like this, when we truly know Him, it changes everything. It’s the foundation of our lives. Without that relationship, everything else falls apart.

Key Takeaway:

2. The Danger of Deceptive Appearances

I’ve seen it. You’ve probably seen it too. People who look good on the outside but are falling apart on the inside. They may be the loudest at church, the first to serve, or the ones with the perfect family photos. But what happens when we peel back the layers? Is the person we see the same person God sees?

Jesus said, “Not every one 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” (Matthew 7:21). It’s not about how we appear to others or even to ourselves. It’s about whether we’re truly doing the will of the Father. We can say “Lord, Lord” all we want, but if we’re not living according to His will, we are deceiving ourselves.

Just like when we think we know someone—how many times do we think we know someone well, only to find out something completely unexpected? How can we truly know someone when there’s so much hidden underneath the surface? We can’t. But God knows us fully. He sees the heart, the hidden sin, the secret thoughts, the battles we face that no one else sees.

Key Takeaway:

3. Hidden Sin Creates Barriers

Here’s the thing about sin: It doesn’t stay hidden forever. It starts small, like an iceberg where most of it is underwater, but eventually, it surfaces and creates destruction.

The Prodigal Son tried to live his life in secret indulgence, but where did it take him? To the pigpen. That’s what sin does—it isolates us from God and from others.

But here’s the good news: God doesn’t just want to expose sin; He wants to free us from it. David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

We need to be honest with God about the areas of our lives that need healing. He already knows anyway, so why not let Him do the work?

Key Takeaway:

4. The Danger of Compromise

Let’s talk about Lot for a minute. When we first meet him in Genesis 13:12, he’s pitching his tent toward Sodom. By the time we get to Genesis 19, he’s living there, surrounded by sin.

Here’s the thing: Sin doesn’t happen all at once. It starts with small compromises—a little here, a little there. But before you know it, you’re in over your head.

Jesus warns us in Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Why? Because her heart was still tied to the life God called her to leave. She looked back, and it cost her everything.

So let me ask you: Where are you pitching your tent today? Are you getting closer to God or closer to compromise?

Key Takeaway:

5. Warning Others: Yelling “Fire”

If someone’s house is on fire, do you whisper, “Hey, you might want to leave”? No! You yell, “Get out now!”

That’s what God told Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:17-19:

“If thou givest him not warning… his blood will I require at thine hand.”

I know it’s not easy to confront someone about their sin. You’re afraid of hurting the relationship or pushing them away. But if you truly love someone, you’ll warn them.

Now, not everyone will listen. Some people, like the Prodigal Son, have to hit rock bottom before they’re ready to come home. But our job is to pray, to love, and to speak the truth in love.

Key Takeaway:

6. Leading Your Family in God’s Way

Here’s where it gets heavy: As leaders in our homes, we’re responsible for the direction of our families.

Lot’s choices didn’t just affect him—they affected his wife and daughters. He moved them to Sodom, and it destroyed them. Jesus said it best: “Whoso shall offend one of these little ones… it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck” (Matthew 18:6).

In contrast, look at the Prodigal Son’s father. He stayed faithful, creating a home of love and grace. When his son was ready to return, there was no bitterness—only open arms.

So, are you leading your family toward God or toward compromise?

Key Takeaway:

7. God’s Compassion and the Hope of Restoration

Let’s finish with the most beautiful part of this message: God’s compassion.

When the Prodigal Son came home, his father didn’t scold him. He didn’t say, “I told you so.” He ran to him, hugged him, and celebrated his return.

Jesus showed that same compassion in John 8:11 when He told the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

God’s compassion doesn’t ignore sin—it redeems us from it. And He calls us to reflect that same love to others.

Key Takeaway:

Conclusion

Church, this is the heart of today’s message: Knowing God is the foundation of everything. Hidden sin and compromise will destroy us, but there’s hope. We’re called to warn others, lead our families well, and reflect God’s compassion.

So, whether you’re the Prodigal, the Father, or someone watching from the sidelines, the answer is the same: Return to the heart of God.