“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9)
Many who assume they had relationship with God will find out otherwise in the day of judgment. “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mt. 7:23) This not only holds for those who prophesy, cast out devils, and perform “many wonderful works;” it applies to anyone who claims to have their own “personal” relationship with God, and yet disregards His Word.
A “personal relationship with God” is not something God leaves up to each of us to custom tailor to our own experiences, preferences, and sensibilities. He lays down the terms and conditions to relationship with Him. We come His way or we don’t come. We come empty of our ideas, a “blank slate,” ready to be taught all things. We say: “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” (Ps. 119:128)
The world wants to impose its own “moral law” on the law of God. It would instruct God and be His counselor. It would pick and choose which parts of His Word are right and acceptable in this day, and which are unacceptable and obsolete. And then it would have the audacity to claim a higher moral ground than those who remain faithful to God’s Word.
Neither God nor His Word will change to accommodate the lawless spirit of this age. Those who think they can lay claim to relationship with God while casting His law behind their back are in for a rude awakening. They may profess that they know Him, but the day is coming when they will hear: “I never knew you.”