The book of Revelation begins with letters to seven churches. While there is much debate about their interpretation, the content is obvious: they were not written for unsaved people. Yet one verse is often thought to be a salvation invitation:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)The context shows the recipients are in a church where members have become lukewarm in their relationship with the Lord:
I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:15–19)These believers have become dangerously content. They have all they need and do not rely on the Lord. Since self-sufficiency is part of the Bible’s definition of sin (see Isaiah 53:6), these church members have forgotten why their lives have been blessed and fallen into trusting themselves. It reminds me of something Jesus said:
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)While this vain fellow was not a believer, I need to beware that I do not fall into the same attitude and look down my nose at others who are not living for Jesus or who claim to be, but their lives are sub-standard — at least in my opinion. However, I can see both similarities and differences in this parable and the church spoken to in Revelation. The parable reveals a self-righteous person looking down his nose, and the letter in revelation reveals a lack of concern about being righteous. The parable reveals the need for recognizing sinful pride and a need for humility. The letter reveals a need for recognizing their sin of complacency and their need to repent and regain their zeal.
Because of the context, Jesus is not making an invitation to sinners and asking them to open the door to be saved. Instead, He is asking those who believe to listen for Him because He has been pushed out of their lives and He wants back in.
Some believers might claim that is impossible, but is it? Can we become oblivious to who and what we are trusting? Not so much for eternal life but for the good life? Has no Christian thought or said, “Look what I did” and gave no glory to God? How much in life do we do according to our own ideas without asking God for wisdom? How easy is it to be lukewarm and comfortable?
Jesus also says that He reproves and disciplines those He loves. He comes to me when my heart is not right and I have shut Him out, knocking and wanting back in. The challenge for me when I am on the other side of the door is to recognize my helplessness and need, to be humble, want my sins covered, and am eager to abandon my pride-filled self-righteousness. I’m to repent, turn from being lax, and remember what He has done for me.
Are those behind that closed door back-sliding, or committing apostasy, or prodigals? How many Christians admit times of shutting the door on Jesus? And how many say this describes how to be saved, making it their choice instead of Jesus choosing them?
PRAY: Rather than pointing fingers, I need to remember that You know who is Yours, and who is still lost in sin. You promise to save, to finish what You start, and that eternal life is eternal yet I’m still learning to pay attention to You and trust You with all details in MY life. I’m not to point fingers at others in judgment, but listen for You and keep the door open by recognizing my sin, then confessing, repenting, and yielding once more to You.
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