Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelations 3:20 BSB
This Bible text is often quoted when people are about to make altar calls for unbelievers. However, the original use of this statement wasn’t to unbelievers. Jesus was actually speaking to the church in Laodicea…a body of believers.
What we see here is a church that has gotten so comfortable in its prosperity and so indifferent toward Jesus that they would leave Him out. They had not just left Jesus on the sidelines, they left Him out completely. Sound familiar to you?
Today, many churches–and more specifically–individuals are trying to do Christianity on their own, without remembering that there is no Christianity without Christ. Christianity is first about a relationship. Jesus came to save us all, yes, but He also came to reveal God as The Father (Matt. 11:27; Jn. 1:18). He came to restore our broken fellowship with God.
The problem is that the church’s priority is gradually shifting away from what’s important. Other things like wealth, success, an obsession with power, and killing the enemy have taken the central plot, instead of Jesus. We have gradually pushed Him out of focus and out the door, making other things take the spotlight. It’s not that these things are bad, but they’re not the center of our faith.
Yet, He stands outside…knocking.
Whenever I hear this, I am reminded of Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep (Lk. 15:1.6). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, would leave the ninety-nine in search of that one. The loss of one sheep is nothing when you have ninety-nine, but for Jesus it was everything. He could have as well moved on from that church in Laodicea but He is not one to abandon lost sheep. He waited outside and kept knocking. He is persistent about reaching out to believers who have gone off track. What we see here is a display of His love. (Lam. 3:22)
In John 15:5, Jesus tells us that on our own, we can do nothing. Sometimes, you put so much effort into a project but don’t yield results. Check, it may be that you have left Jesus outside. With each knock on the door, He calls the attention of straying hearts and blinded eyes. If and when you realize your need of Him, open the door and let Him in.
Moreover, Jesus doesn’t force Himself on us. Ultimately, the choice is yours, to either open up the door for the One who stands outside knocking or to leave the door shut. However, He waits, hoping you make the right choice. He says if any man opens the door, He will come in and dine with him. (Deut. 30:15)
The indifference of believers towards fellowship and a personal relationship with Jesus is what is killing the church. Any stream cut off from its source will soon run dry. A branch severed from the vine withers up. We cannot leave Jesus out of our lives and expect to have the same strength as when we are closely in touch with Him.
Nonetheless, the decision to open the door is also individualistic. Don’t wait on any church or cleric. You can take that step individually. Jesus says “If anyone”. He pleads to the body in general but appeals individually to every believer.
Jesus is knocking…He is beckoning on you to draw nearer.
Jesus says He will dine with whoever lets Him. That points to a relationship. Don’t just know Him from a distance or from what you have heard people say about Him, have that personal relationship with Him.
Don’t leave prayers to only when there’s trouble and praises to when there’s something good going on. Make it a part of you to study scripture and seek God’s voice on matters. Christians don’t start to backslide when they sin, they start to backslide when they lose that relationship with Jesus. Don’t harden your heart and shun His voice.
Nevertheless, it is only when we let go of our self-sufficiency that we can find it in us to open the door. Until we let go of the “I can do it on my own” mentality, until the church can let go of self-righteousness derived from doctrines and practices, we will never be humble enough to let Jesus in.
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.
James 4:6 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Although this passage can be applied to unbelievers, to urge them to take a step of faith, it is firstly and primarily directed at believers. Jesus is not just knocking on the doors of unbelieving hearts but He’s also knocking on the hearts of complacent believers. Let’s let Jesus into our hearts and into our churches. Let’s make Him the focus again. Let’s strive for that relationship. Jesus wants to be involved.
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