A Permanent Resident

Have you ever been locked out of your own house and had to knock on the door to get in? This is the picture we see in Revelation 3, where Jesus said, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (verse 20 NLT).

In its original context, Jesus was addressing these words to the church of Laodicea. This church had lost their relationship with Him and replaced it with cold legalism and religion. So Jesus was saying, “I want relationship.”

In the first century, they didn’t have fast-food restaurants like we have today. A meal, especially dinner, was something that took time. It was the main event of the day. They would sit at a table that was very low to the ground, and instead of sitting in chairs, they’d recline on pillows. A meal was a time of sharing, a time of talking, a time of discussing the events of the day. It was a very important time of intimacy and closeness.

For example, when you have close friends over, do you sit in the living room? Probably not. It’s more likely that you go to the kitchen, because there’s something relaxed about a kitchen. It’s a great place to hang out.

So Jesus was saying, “This is what I desire with you. I want fellowship. I want friendship. I want closeness.” And He’s saying the same to us.

At Christmas we sing, “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” but are we prepared for all that includes? Do we want Christmas all year long or just one day of the year? Do we just want the Lord home for the holidays, or are we ready to invite Him in, not just as a guest but as a permanent resident in our lives?