“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” Genesis 4:7
In the book of the Revelation, when the Lord Jesus in His glory was addressing the church at Laodicea, He spoke some of the most beautiful, and comforting words in Scripture. They reveal something of the heart of the Great Shepherd, the Beloved, the Savior and King, the Lord of all. They speak of His desire, and will, of Him coming into the life and sphere of one’s existence, to bring cleansing, life, and restoration of the believer to Himself. In chapter three, we see Him, by the description of his visitation, “at the door,” knocking, desiring entrance. What a marvelous, and most remarkable fact, that this One who describes Himself as, “…the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God,” (Rev. 3:14) all knowing, speaking the truth in love concerning the spiritual state of the Laodicean church, would give to her a picture of Himself, and His desire. We have therefore, this Wondrous, all-knowing, and all-powerful God, speaking to the heart of the believer, seeking entrance into the heart, there to impart His life, the highest of all blessings, communion with Christ. The Lord reveals Himself as the God of the heart, one who is perfect, gracious, and loving, in His approach and address to the heart. However, it must be said at this point that the Lord comes to the heart of the individual, and the church, revealing the truth of the heart’s condition of each. It is one where the spiritual expression of the life is at a life-less, stagnant ebb. There is no zeal, no overflowing of Life and power, and certainly, no fulness of the love of God. It is a “neutralized” existence, where deception has laid hold of mind and heart, and a false value system is robbing her of her reward. She has been fooled into thinking that the material world is that which can respond to the depths of her spiritual need. Satan has offered her a piece of fruit which tastes sweet, but the result is bitter lifelessness, and waste. Without even knowing it, her life has become a desolation, a desert, without purpose and certainly without power. It is to this one whom the Lord loves that He comes. How does He do this? He speaks in powerful, compassionate simplicity. He addresses His words to her in such a way, that she recognizes that it is Him. His ardent desire is to meet the deep needs of her heart, that she might live again. His call to her is to become truly rich, spiritually rich, by virtue of the riches of Christ’s Spirit, communicating to her His riches, his “gold tried by fire.” He speaks to her of cleanness, holiness, separation unto Himself. He calls her to receive an ointment for her eyes, which He alone can give, so that she can see clearly again.
There is a time to respond to the Lord’s voice, and it is today. Part of the message of the Gospel is that it is for today, the acceptable time, according to the word of God. There must be the response to open the door, “…while He is near.”
It must be said that there is another someone, or something, at the gate or door. Scripture portrays it as lying at the door, so different from the One standing and knocking, lovingly speaking to the heart. It is called sin. To not receive the Christ of life into the heart, with the light and warmth of His Life and power, is to open the door to sin and death. Sin is the bearer of bad news, speaking deception, resulting in death and suffering. The believer will either fling wide the door, letting the King of Glory come in, or he will, by default, embrace the lies of sin, resulting in suffering and death.
Dear Father, Give us grace to open the door forever to Christ, bidding him constant entrance and possession of our hearts and lives, in love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.