Access Denied!

Have you ever gone somewhere and had your access denied? Or have you walked up to the cashier at a grocery store (or Target in my case) and have your credit/debit card denied? It is humiliating. You are sure you just got paid and the check should be in the bank. It must be the banks fault....ugh the Bank, but wait maybe you are supposed to be paid next week or you already had your mortgage taken out of this weeks pay. Maybe you are being denied because you didn't keep your account up-to-date and you really aren't sure what is in there. You balanced your checkbook on Monday, but forgot to look at it the rest of the week. Many people do this same thing with Jesus. We know Him on Sunday, but we forget Him by Monday.
Are you standing strong in your faith in all areas of your life? Do you admit Jesus is Lord and Savior of your life at church and with your church friends and deny Him with others?
On Sunday everyone was catching up about their Spring Break and telling everyone what they had done, when I overheard someone say they went on a trip with a group of friends and one of the friends said they were far enough away from church that they didn't need to act Christian anymore. WOW! This person was amazed and said the right thing, 'Didn't Jesus die for everyone's sins everywhere not just at church.' Amen Sister! However I see Sunday Christians all the time. When we do this we are denying Christ, we are saying our ways are more important than His ways. Our comfort and political correctness is more important than the truth.
Even Peter struggled in this area of his life. The same man who Jesus said, "Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all of the powers of hell will not conquer it." Matthew 16:18. Peter was with Jesus 24/7, he had grown close to Him, but Jesus knew Peter would deny Him still. "Peter,' Jesus replied, 'the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows twice you will deny me three times." Mark 14:30. Peter couldn't believe it, no way would he deny His Lord on the night Jesus was to be captured, but he DID! "Peter denied it...Just then, a rooster crowed. Peter denied it again....Peter said, "I swear by God, I don't know this man you are talking about. And immediately the rooster crowed the second time." Mark 14: 68a,b, 70a, 71-72a. Peter did just as Jesus prophesied, and this was a man who was with Jesus always.
Jesus warned all of us by saying, "If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33. And where will Jesus be to do all this..."Jesus said, 'I am, and you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven." Mark 14:62. Jesus is at God's right hand and when we come before the judgment seat are you ready for Jesus to say, Didn't you deny me?!
Are you obeying God, are you glorifying Him in everything you do and say? Don't make the mistake of denying Him. Let your words and actions profess Christ as your LORD and Savior because in the end that's all that matters and you don't want God to say "Access Denied"!