If you and I were to run into each other at the grocery store, the dollar store, or sitting in a waiting room somewhere, I would very likely introduce myself and ask you a question. That question is simple and straightforward — where do you go to church? There are, of course, many who will answer correctly, I belong to a church and attend weekly.
However, for many people, you might be surprised at what happens next. Most people fumble through the answer.
They’ll say things like, “Well, we belong to such and such church,” or “Our family are members at ABC Church over on the other side of town.” They hem and haw about some kind of distant, mystical relationship they have with a congregation somewhere — sometimes a relationship that is years or even decades old. In their minds they still belong, even though the truth is often that they haven’t been in months or years.
And then comes the justification. Back problems. A falling out with somebody. An illness or infirmity that keeps them home on Sunday mornings. They can’t be without a bathroom nearby. They can’t move their membership because they want the free burial spot at the old church they used to attend. The preacher asks for money. My wife cooked fish and we smelled like it. I can’t miss the game. I connect with God better when I’m fishing. My kids sports team plays on Sunday. Sunday is my only day to sleep in. God told me to stay home. Many kinds of excuses. The craziest one? My dog gets lonely without me!
What is an excuse after all, but the skin of a reason, with a lie tucked inside!
So they make excuses, that is, until you run into them at the post office or the restaurant or standing in the checkout line at the dollar store. Here is the honest truth — they may think they are fooling themselves with those excuses, but they are not fooling God. Not for one single moment.
Excuses Don’t Fool God
God’s Word speaks directly to this. Hebrews 10:25 says, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” That is not a suggestion. That is a command. And God had good reason to put it there. Regular fellowship with other believers is not optional equipment for the Christian life — it is part of the design.
When we drift away from the gathered body of Christ, something in our spiritual life begins to cool. We grow weaker. We grow more isolated. And over time, the evidence of genuine, living faith begins to fade.
You do not have to explain to me why you do not go to church. I understand that life is complicated and that people get hurt. But one day, you will have to explain it to God. And on that day, no excuse will be sufficient. Life is short, and eternity is a very long time. The decisions you make about how you will live here has everything to do with where you will spend forever.
What Does Genuine Faith Look Like?
So, what does real, saving faith actually look like? The apostle John answers that question clearly in 1 John chapter 5. He writes, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father, loves his children, too. We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:1-3, NLT)
Genuine faith is not invisible. It shows up. It produces love for God, love for other believers, a desire to fellowship with other believers, and a desire to walk in obedience to His Word. John goes on to say in verse 13, “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” (NLT) Notice that word — know. Not hope so. Not probably. Not if I am good enough. Know. Genuine faith carries with it a real assurance, a settled confidence that comes not from our own goodness but from a living relationship with Jesus Christ. If that assurance is missing from your life, it is worth stopping to ask yourself why.
The Coal That Goes Cold
You may have heard the old illustration about the fireplace. When you take a single coal out of the fire and set it off by itself on the hearth, it goes cold quickly. But the coals that stay together — they keep burning. They keep each other hot. They sustain the flame. That is a picture of the Christian life lived in community versus the Christian life lived in isolation. God never designed us to walk this road alone. The Greek word is koinonia — fellowship, partnership, a shared life together. It is not just a church word. It is a lifeline. Those who are genuinely living for Christ find this to be a wonderful way to exist in this world. They draw strength each day from the heavenly Father, from the fellowship of other believers, from the love and support of brothers and sisters who are walking the same road. We are not perfect people. Not by a long shot. But we have community. We have accountability. We have each other. If you are feeling alone in the world right now, I want you to hear this gently but honestly — that loneliness is likely the result of decisions you have made. And the most important decision you can make is the one right in front of you today.
The Question Behind the Question
When I ask you where you go to church, that is really just the first question. The question behind the question is this — what is your relationship to Jesus Christ? Are you living a life that is pleasing to Him? Have you made Him Lord of your life? Have you made a genuine commitment to live here on this earth in a way that reflects a heart that belongs to God? Now, I want to be clear — it is not our works that earn us a place in heaven. We cannot be good enough, serve enough, or give enough to deserve eternal life. Salvation comes through faith alone, in Christ alone. It is a saving knowledge and a living relationship with Jesus Christ that is the answer. But here is what is also true — real faith produces real fruit. A life surrendered to Christ looks different from a life lived for self. The evidence of genuine faith is not invisible. It shows up in how we love, how we live, and yes, where we plant ourselves on Sunday morning with the people of God.
I Never Knew You
Jesus himself gave us one of the most sobering warnings in all of Scripture. In Matthew 7:21-23, He said this: “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. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” (NLT) Read that again slowly. These are people who were busy doing religious things. They used Jesus’s name. They did impressive things in His name. And yet Jesus says — I never knew you. That is the most chilling sentence in the Bible. Religious activity is not the same thing as genuine relationship. Showing up occasionally is not the same as truly belonging to Christ. The real question at the end of time will not be, “Do you know Jesus?” The question will be — does Jesus know you?
Does Jesus Know You?
So, I want to leave you with that question today. Not as a condemnation, but as an honest and urgent invitation. Does Jesus know you? Take a moment and examine the evidence. Is there fruit in your life that points to genuine faith — love for God, love for others, a desire to walk in obedience, a commitment to the community of believers? Or have you been coasting on an old memory of a decision made years ago while living a life that looks no different from the world around you? Do you want to keep living alone, and risk dying alone, and spend eternity separated from God? Or do you want to know — really know — that when this life is over, you will be with Him forever? If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, today is the day. Tell Him you know you are a sinner. Tell Him you believe He died for you and rose again. Ask Him to be the Lord of your life.
And then find a Bible-believing church and plant yourself there, surrounded by people who will walk with you. And if you already know Christ but you have been drifting — come home. The door is open. The fire is still burning. Life is short. Eternity is long. And the most important question anyone will ever ask you is not where you go to church. It is — does Jesus know you?
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Pastor Scott Gabrielson