![[Drawing of Jesus standing at a door]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sIBGE21mu0zJ3pOUe5mpjMuemDrNbSODv9s4waZQo4-fLGmDHwqbEa2LTj4ZaitT1ZGDW6rQsXv6_L4M8xVHQR8l_wP1HfKHd0EESPZbc3C30JXJvn-Q3H=s0-d)
| “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” |
| —Revelation 3:14 and 20 |
The house is full of people busily engaged in their very own, personal activities. Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door. At first, no one responds. The person standing outside the door knocks again. From somewhere in the bowels of the residence a shrill voice rings out, “For goodness sake, will someone please answer the door?”
Has that ever happened at your house? It certainly has happened at mine. In fact, I can remember as a relatively small boy, it was my job to answer the door. That likely wouldn’t happen today. But, it was a different time and a different place, many, many years ago. And, we had a very secure outer storm door that was always locked, so I could see who was at the door and they could not enter if I didn’t unlock that outer door.
Now, what if the person responding to the shrill command went to the door and found Jesus waiting on the doorstep? That’s the word picture that the Apostle John creates in Revelation 3:14 and 20:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
In Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation, John presents God special message, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to the seven churches in Asia. Each of these churches represents the very nature of our churches today. If we want to read this special message and try to figure out which church represents the one we belong to today, all we have to do is read these two chapters.
What would you do if Jesus suddenly appeared on your doorstep? That’s a question that each of us needs to consider. In fact, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Jesus lives in our hearts. Do we really live and act and speak as if He was present with us?
I don’t know about you. But, I can tell you that, sadly, I need a constant reminder that Jesus is with me. Sometimes I look back on something I did or something I said, or something I thought and shudder when I remember that Jesus was all too aware of my behavior. I think that’s a healthy motivator to learn—and it is a learning process—to live, act, speak, and think in a more God-pleasing way.
In fact, I’m going to redouble my efforts this day, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live, act, speak, and think in a more appropriate way. I know it will be hard. But, surely, such obedience will please our Savior and Lord.
