There is something wrong about the picture of Jesus knocking at the door... is it that He wasn't invited... or that He was made to wait outside? The context of the scripture (Revelation 3:20) "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" ...is that of the Church... and it is as if He was not even welcome.
Recently I was at a men's group where one of our guys didn't show up, and we were discussing that we really enjoyed the friendship we share with him. It occurred to us that it would have been weird if he was sitting in the room, while we were talking about him... as a picture of what we do on any given Sunday... with our Lord. We talk all about Him, yet we fail to talk and visit with Him... all the while He is waiting... knocking.
The early Church didn't have this problem, even from the start... after Jesus' Resurrection He would just appear in their midst, or along the road, and out on the lake shore... Jesus knew when He was welcome... and expected. Such a contrast to today, we are so organized and so particular who we invite... could it be that God Himself is disguised as the "looser" we pass-by on our way to worship?
I mean really, who's house is the Church anyway?
Interesting though, the verse proceeding the one mentioned says... "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" ...IF Jesus has to knock on His own house to be let in... IT'S A REBUKE! What have we done? Could it be that the Lord of Lords is made to stay outside... while we wine-and-dine at the memory of His death on the inside? And could it be that He is still out with the sinners, where He is welcome?
Last year I handed out some gospel tracts (small pamphlets about Jesus); and as I did I noticed that many "good" people simply refrained from accepting one, yet everyone that looked "bad" rugged and tattooed up (without exception) took one. Interesting. It has been my experience that most people don't have a problem with God... rather, they have a problem with the religious and pious... that think they are good.
I can see that is one thing they have in common with the Creator.
Another interesting thing is the following scripture to the one mentioned above, and it says... "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" ...I think that this rebuke comes at a timely junction in the Church today... we must overcome... overcome the fear to be seen with Jesus. That's right. Overcoming the fear to be seen with the living Jesus Christ, and sitting with Him in His throne... let me give you a visual... sitting with and talking with Jesus in Church, instead of just talking about Him. Sounds crazy?
We behave in the Church like many do after a funeral... morning the loss, and wishing that the departed was still with us... while all along the "departed" is still with us! The reason people don't believe in our Christ is because WE DON'T EITHER! Jesus has no effect in our lives, our habits and our future. We shouldn't complain that Jesus, the Bible and prayer are taken out of our schools... when we have effectively removed Him from our churches! And make Him stand outside at the door and knock...
instead of allowing Him to walk right in expected, anticipated and most of all... welcome.
(Jesus) said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers." (Matthew 21:13)
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:19-21)
Have you ever walked into a strange place, and not felt welcome?
Don't feel too bad, you are in good company...
that's what happens to Jesus Christ...
most any given Sunday or Saturday.