“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)

Behold I stand at the door and knock …

It’s a process, you know. Rarely does a person move away from God all at once. Like an ember dying slowly in a fireplace, faith slowly disappears and is replaced by cynicism or, even worse, apathy. Instead of deciding to stop believing in God, most people just give up caring.

I stand at the door and knock …

Sin is often a gradual process as well. It starts with a temptation, like money left out at the store or an attractive co-worker who shows too much attention. Our thoughts focus on that temptation until desire takes over. A small sin leads to a bigger sin which eventually leads to a lifestyle. We look up one day and don’t recognize the person we’ve become.

If anyone hears my voice …

Even as we begin to give up on ourselves, God never does. He knocks. He calls. He seeks us out. Remember, this passage in Revelation was written to Christians. People who knew God, but had wandered away from Him. Like the shepherd looking for the lost lamb, God goes looking for His people.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door …

God wants to get back into our lives, but He won’t force His way in. We have to open the door. We have to respond to His call. We have to say, “Yes, I want you back in my life.” God is the Almighty Creator, yet He cares enough about His children to go looking for them. He also cares enough for them to allow them the right to choose. He knocks. He calls. We have to open the door.

I will come in to him …

It’s what God wants. He wants to be in relationship with us, even when we’ve wandered away, even when we’ve done things that we’re ashamed to remember. No sin is too great. No distance is too far. There is no door that cannot be opened. All we have to do is turn back to Him and open the door.

I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

There is something deeply personal about sharing a meal together. The Lord of the Universe wants to come to us, sit down and eat with us. He wants a loving relationship with us. So He knocks. And calls. And waits for us to open the door.

“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)

Open the door. Let Him come to you. Let Him wipe away your past and give you a fresh start with Him.

Doing this research caused me to be reminded of how we often expect God to respond to our timetable. We sometimes question God’s faithfulness to act in response to our requests when answers don’t come immediately. We must remember that God’s faithfulness, like “Old Faithful,” doesn’t act according to our time. There are occasions when there are long periods of time between trouble and resolution. As we mature and our faith increases, we begin to realize that God is ever faithful. Even when the time stretches longer as we wait for His answers, our faith increases, knowing that He always answers. Because of the faithfulness of Father God we can be filled with joy and sing of His great love forever.

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself (Psalm 89:1-2).

If you aren’t carrying the song of joy in your heart because of a lack of trust in the faithfulness of our Father, leave a comment or contact us at hopeforlife.org.

Some people might think that is what you need to do in order to become a Christian.  Fix up the outside so it looks nice, even if the rest of you is a mess.  Hide all the trash and dirty laundry.  After all, you don’t want anyone to know the real you.  And do not volunteer any information about yourself that might detract from your image.

Why do people think this way?  Jesus didn’t.  He reached out to the socially disenfranchised, the addicted, the unpopular, and those whose lives where a mess.  He still reaches out for those who don’t have it all together.  He wants us just as we are.  He came for sinners.  He came to find the lost, give life to the dead, and heal the broken.  So maybe the real estate signs of our life should be more like these.

For Sale by Owner:  Jesus calls us to let go of ourselves, our ego, and our lives so that he might own us.  Completely.

Fixer-upper:  We all need Jesus to make right the things that we cannot.  He is the one who can restore the brokenness of our lives.

As Is:  You do not have to have it all together to come to Jesus.  In fact, you only have to know that you do not have it together.

Hidden Value:  God made you, knows you, and has great plans for you.  He values you enough that He sent His only Son to this earth to bring you back to Him.

If you are ready to know the Jesus who loves you just as you are, I can introduce you to him.  Look around this site, www.hopeforlife.org or drop me a note at steve@hopeforlife.org.

Blessings,

Steve

In addition, there was a world-famous medical school in Laodicea, famous for the treatment of optical diseases. At the school, a salve for the eyes was prepared and shipped to distant lands in the form of tablets.

Laodiceans had every right to be proud, and apparently they were. That’s why Jesus’ words to Christians in that city had a sharp sting: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Revelation 3:17-18)

Wow! Though Laodicea was famous for its wealth, Jesus tells the Laodiceans they are in direst poverty. He declares these producers of beautiful dark clothing to be naked, needing white clothes he can provide. Despite Laodicea’s fame in treating eye diseases, Jesus says they are blind, needing the treatment only he can give.

What would he say about me? What points of pride would he address, showing the flaws in my perceived strengths? What would he say of my possessions, my accomplishments, my boasting? What would he say of my self-sufficiency?

I know what he would say. The truth. Jesus can see the real me. Not the facade I present to the world, not the image I build up around myself. Jesus sees me. Jesus knows me.

He knows you too. You can fool everyone around you, but Jesus sees the real you. He sees what you really need. I may not know you, but I can tell you that Jesus has what you need. He can eliminate your spiritual poverty, clothe your emotional nakedness and heal your inner blindness.

The Laodiceans needed Jesus. They needed what he had to offer, even though they didn’t realize it. Whether you know it or not, you need him too. As do I. Let’s seek him together.

“How do you know?” How do you know God is real? How do you know there is a heaven or hell? And maybe the most important question of all, how do you know you’re going to heaven?

To answer those How do you know? questions, scripture says: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” I Peter 3:15-16

This is one of those interesting human dilemmas that we feel trapped by. When we try to explain how we know, there is a fear that others will interrogate us as to why we made such a dreadfully poor decision. Yet look at the words. It says we are to give a reason for our faith. It’s not a debate to prove whose reasons are best; it’s not a dictate that everyone believes exactly the same on every subject; and it’s not collective wisdom. It’s why you, personally and individually, believe. How did you come to those conclusions?

When we stand before God Almighty at the final judgment, it will only be you and Jesus who have to answer for you. The opinions, beliefs and choices of others will not be admissible.

So, how DO YOU know? Tell me what you know and more importantly, how you know it……..

We walked out of a meeting to find one of our vehicles had a flat tire.  All three of us knew how to change a tire.  We were good with our hands.  This would be done in no time.  The only problem was… we could not get the spare tire off.  At different times, all three of us tried and failed.  A fourth friend walked out and offered to help.  You could tell he was amused that we were stymied by a spare tire.  You could tell he had no doubt whatsoever that he would do what we could not.  Until he couldn’t.

It was then that another friend joined us.  “Did you check the owner’s manual?”  Three of us ignored him and continued our futile efforts, but one did get out the instruction manual.  Problem solved.  Ten minutes later the tire was changed.  Why did we not look at the manual sooner?  It was because we did not realize we needed it.  We had all changed many tires in the past.  We were confident we were doing the right thing.  It took someone else to point out what we needed.

This is the same thing that happens to followers of Jesus.  We believe we know exactly how to handle every situation in life.  Because we think things are going well, we may not even realize when we are in trouble.  We need someone to remind us to check out the owner’s manual,  the Bible.  God created us and He gave us a blueprint for life.  It helps when we are in trouble, and it helps prevent trouble and it helps us live the life God desires for us.

So I have now read my vehicle’s owner manual.  I have learned things I did not know about how to maintain my vehicle.  And, more importantly, I will read the owner’s manual written for my life.  After all, my vehicle will not last forever no matter what I do.  But I will.

When Jesus addressed the Christians of this city in the book of Revelation, he used an illustration they would understand: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). The Greek word translated “spit” is more accurately translated “vomit.” It’s an unpleasant image for an unpleasant condition: Christians who have lost their passion, who have compromised their loyalty to Christ.

Unfortunately, the world has seen too many Christians just like this. Mahatma Gandhi said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” The agnostic Sheldon Vanuaken wrote,

The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians–when they are sombre and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.

If you’re not a Christian and that’s the only Christianity you’ve seen, then I’d urge you to look again. There are Christians who have overcome this perpetual state of apathy. They know that Christianity isn’t just about showing up at church at certain times. It’s a way of life. As Vanuaken said, such Christians are the best argument for Christianity that exists.

If you are a Christian, but find that lukewarm describes your faith, let me encourage you to go back to the basics. Focus on Bible study and prayer. Find a church and make yourself an active part of it. Reconnect with God each week by participating in the Lord’s Supper.

Nobody likes lukewarm. Nobody wants to be lukewarm. And nobody wants Jesus to “spit them out.” If you need help rekindling your faith or don’t know where to find a church to be a part of, just leave a comment or contact us through this site.

Weight loss programs are consumed with rules — always telling you what you can and cannot eat.  They are so caught up in numbers that they want you to keep a record of how much you weigh.  Gyms are no better.  Someone is always yelling at you, telling you what to do.  All they do is ask for my money, and they are pretty unrealistic about how often a busy person can attend.  So I want to be healthy, but I do not need memberships and programs.

Sure there is some benefit to being with other people with the same goals and focus.  I guess the accountability factor could help.  Their programs evidently work.  I know healthy people belong to health clubs and weight management programs.  But not me.  I do not need them and I do not want them.  But I am really serious about being healthy!  I will lose weight my way and I will feel better one of these days.

You have figured out by now that if I really had an attitude like that I would not be real serious about being healthy.  Nor would I want to be around people who were.  You would conclude that I was fooling myself.

In the same way, how can someone say they want to be a follower of Jesus but not have any connection with a church?  Maybe being part of a community of believers is not for you.  If you do not enjoy being around people passionate for Jesus, if you do not want to be part of programs that help you grow spiritually, and if you get offended by anyone who expects you to live up to the commitment you made … then church is not for you.

But if you are serious about living a life for Jesus, connect with others who can walk with you on that journey.

Steve

The city was protected by a mountain fortress. When enemies attacked, the people of Sardis would flee to the fortress, with the steep rock face of the mountainside protecting them from all foes. With vigilant sentries guarding the walls, the fortress was impenetrable.

It was a different story, however, when those guards were asleep. After Croesus had unsuccessfully attacked the Persian army of Cyrus, he fled to his citadel to wait out the siege. Cyrus offered a reward to any of his men who could find a way to penetrate the fortress walls. One of the Persian soldiers saw a guard drop his helmet, climb down to retrieve it and climb back up. That night, the Persians used the same route to scale the mountain and attack the fortress. To their surprise, when they arrived at the top, all of the people of Sardis were asleep, including the soldiers. The conquest was swift and almost effortless.

In the New Testament, the people of Sardis were sent a message by Jesus: Wake up! “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you” (Revelation 3:3). The Christians there had become complacent and needed to be awakened.

I need that sometimes as well. My daily routine and the rhythm of the world around me lull me into a spiritual slumber. I begin to “go with the flow,” letting my circumstances dictate how I will feel and what I will do.

I need that spiritual alarm clock that cries “Wake up!”, reminding me that drifting my way through life can only lead to disaster. I have to consciously think about priorities, consciously plan to resist pressures to conform and actively choose to be a person of faith. If I don’t wake up, complacency will creep upon me by night, overwhelming my defenses and destroying all that I hold dear.

As the news of the day grows worse and worse, we need to shake ourselves from our siestas, remember the things that we have heard and obey them. It’s not just about knowing, it’s about doing.

It’s like life, isn’t it?  Sometimes something happens that we had no idea was coming:  sickness, job loss, accidents, or natural disasters.  Our emotional life fluctuates from one extreme to the other.  We can go from joy to heartache in just a few moments.  Relationships falter, marriages struggle, friends hurt us.  It works the other way also.  Good news on test results, a hug from a child, a job promotion, a birthday or anniversary, a heartfelt apology, and time spent with people who love us can lift us to emotional highs.

We all want the wonderful experiences of life, yet we know the hard times come… sometimes quickly, and sometimes unexpectedly.  Surviving the “climate changes” of life is not as easy as putting on – or taking off – a sweater.  We all need something solid, stable, and permanent in our life… something we can count on no matter what happens or how we are feeling.

There is something – someone in fact – you can count on to be unfailingly consistent.  Jesus was the same yesterday as he is today.  And he will be the same tomorrow.  He is always there, always loves you, and will not be affected by the circumstances of your life.  In a world where things can change dramatically in just a heartbeat, he is the one certainty you can count on… no matter what happens tomorrow.

That is how I have survived the radical changes in my life.

So what do  you think?

Blessings,

steve