Receiving Jesus as Lord
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20)
These words of Jesus were addressed not to an individual but to the lukewarm Church of Laodicea. They speak of a strange metaphor. Jesus is standing outside the door of His own church. The words may also apply the the Christian Church in America. He wants to come in. But He is frozen out by church programs and narrow doctrines in the wrong sense of the word "narrow."
If this can happen to a church can it happen to an individual Christian? No doubt it can. In fact, churches get into trouble because pastors get into trouble and congregations get into trouble. Jesus is pushed aside. Jesus is not Lord of the Church. The Church is the lord of Jesus. The pastor is in charge. The board of elders is in charge. The praise leader is in charge. The organist is in charge.
Unfortunately, when churches push Jesus aside they may also push people aside. Many people have been hurt by the church and no l0nger attend. The ones who remain might call the others "backsliders," not realizing that they are the ones who are poor and naked and blind.
What is the solution? Jesus tells us to open the door. He is waiting to come in. Do we also need to open up the doors of our hearts and let Him in? Isn't our baptism enough? Isn't our born again experience enough? What about our baptism in the Holy Spirit. We cast our demons in His name. We heal the sick. How could Jesus ever say to us: "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you?"
We are ultimately going to need staying power. Jesus asked: When I return will I find faith on the earth? That seems to suggest that one could lose his or her faith. In fact, he taught that "he who endured to the last would be saved."
"He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But to as many who received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God." (John 1:1-12)
We need to receive Him. Believing is not enough. The demons believe and tremble. We need to receive Him into our inner most selves. We need to know Him. He needs to know us. He wants to have an intimate relationship with us. We need His power to become his children. The reason Jesus might say to us: "Depart from me," — is because we have been saying that to him.
Is Jesus a part of our life. Have we invited Him in? He is waiting at the door the hearts of many "believers."