Temporary Guest or PERMANENT RESIDENT?

READ: LUKE 12: 35-40

“listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” REVELATION 3:20 (Nrsv)

An examination of the above familiar painting may transport us back to our childhood, when we were first provided a visual representation of Jesus knocking at the door of our heart. I recall that it was comforting to imagine that all I had to do was open that door and salvation would be mine. I do not recall any real thoughts as to what was supposed to happen after I answered His summons. However, allowing entry to our potential Guest is expressed only in the first few words of the verse. What was to be done with Him after he gained entry?

Did we ready the guest room for Him even on a temporary basis or was our entryway in reality a revolving door in which He departed immediately after entering? Even if He was granted permanent residence, do we confine Him in a closet in our dwelling rather than a place of honor? Frequently once He is admitted, He is ignored and maybe even through our actions asked to leave or perhaps He departs on His own as He feels crowded out! Later when our troubles prompt a sensitivity of our need for Him, we once again hear Him knocking and ask Him, “What are you doing out there? Come on in, the guest room awaits you.” Often for a time He receives the honor due to Him and frequently however, after the crisis passes, we once again ignore His presence!

How do we avoid repeating this cycle? First of all it seems like we need to recognize our Lord doesn’t reside with and in us just for troubled times. We need to at least daily share our joys with Him and thank Him. Unless we do this, we once again evict our honored Guest and wonder where He is when we need Him.