Behold I stand at the door and Knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door. I will come in to him and dine with him, and He with me. - Revelation 3:20
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
This verse portraits a very gentle, kind, tender Jesus knocking on the door. But, if you read this verse in its context, Jesus is far from doing a gentle knock. This invitation came on the edge of a bracing rebuke and a serious warning. It was an emergency invitation. Jesus was pounding on the Laodicean's door, on the door of a Luke-warm church who put their trust in idols which puts them in deep spiritual danger. Their prosperous ways, their wayward ways, their slowness to listen to the word of God, and their inconsiderate ways to the people around, must have made Jesus want to shove them. Yet, He lovingly disciplined them with firm words and called them to zealous repentance and reform.
Our question to ask ourselves is: Is Jesus knocking our Heart's door gently or pounding? Are we sensitive to his calling? Are we resisting Him? or are we plain ignoring His warnings? Are we tolerating the sin and wickedness around us? Are we giving into idolatry? One sure way to know the form of idolatry in us is the lukewarmness of our spiritual life. Typically, a little waywardness might not seem like a grave danger but, let it be a warning, it is deadly in the long run! It brings us to a place of wretchedness, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked souls that we are and the realization of that won't hit us.
Since, Jesus loves sinful people like us, When we fall, in such pity-full state, He comes knocking to rescue us from it. But, let us be keen to listen and have a receiving heart. Let us fully welcome Jesus, as He comes knocking, that we may dine with him and He with us. Let us with all seriousness accept His gentle yet firm invitation with pure joy and a sincere heart. Be blessed.
Comments
Post a Comment