Would You Open The Door?

Revelation 3:20 – 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.

I had been working late that night, and got to bed about 12:30. It was one of those "hope I can finally fall asleep" kind of nights, and so when the doorbell rang at quarter to four, the only thing that assured me it wasn't a dream, was the barking of my dog.

It only rang once, but as I was alone, there was no way I was venturing downstairs, even to "take a peep". Upon looking out the window, a person was weaving their way up the road, not stopping at any other house. Perhaps it is because ours is the only house with a light on in this area. It doesn't happen often, maybe once a year … someone has a party, alcohol and/or drugs are involved, there's a fight, someone leaves, and I guess my home looks like a safe place. Usually, if someone else is home, I will either let the person in, or go out to see what I can do.

This time however, I did neither, but I did phone the police, who said they would cruise around and look for the person. I prayed for the person to be kept safe. Sleep however, took awhile to return. Upon checking this morning, the police reported that they were unable to find anyone.

If you knew me to be a small-statured person, and the person at the door to be a big, tough-looking male, or maybe a male period, you'd probably say I'd done the right thing. If, however, it was I who was big and tough looking, and the person at the door was of diminutive stature, you might ask how I could turn my back on them. And too, had I let the person in, if someone had set out in search for them, the searchers may have been frantic. In any case, opening the door becomes a question of safety and sensibility.

Isn't it wonderful that when Jesus "knocks", we don't have to "look through the peephole" first. His entering isn't a question of our safety … for we will surely be safer with him in our "house". If we don't let Him in, the police can't go looking for Him to make sure He is OK. He never leaves. He is always there, waiting for us to open the door.

Prayer: We acknowledge and thank you Lord, for being at "our door", that we need only ask, and open, and you will enter. In Your name we pray. Amen.