Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.       Revelation 3:20 HCSB

I don’t know how people do things in other parts of the country, but I know that here in Louisiana we like to eat.  In my opinion, we have the best food in the world. One way we celebrate our friendship with others is to dine with them over lunch or dinner.  Often times we get really busy and don’t get to see our friends as often as we would like, but you’ve got to eat right. Everybody stops long enough to eat, so this is just a good time to get together.

Now I can honestly say, that I have never approached a stranger on the street and asked them to join me for a meal either in a restaurant or in our home.  Dining with someone is reserved for those that we have some type of relationship with and is usually a way to strengthen that relationship.  Those in business relationships may meet over lunch or dinner. My mom used to cook a big meal every Sunday in order to get the family together, but she also extended invitations for people to come to church and then join the family for dinner.

We can categorize our relationships with others. We have cordial relations with some, maybe business type relations. With others we may be more friendly, but it’s not a really close relationship. Then we have close relationships, where we dine together and whether we see each often or not so often, we know that we can call on each other. If you were to look at your relationship with Jesus, how would you categorize that?  Would it be that cordial relationship where you see each other from time to time, but you don’t really know him? Would it be a relationship where you know him, but you are not really committed to the friendship? Or would it be that kind of familiar relationship where you come into each other’s homes and share meals together?

I hope that you visit His home regularly with church attendance. I hope that you regularly take part in the Lord’s Supper or Communion, whatever your church calls it.  I hope that you are in that close relationship with Him.  Our scripture passage tells us that he knocks at the door and all we have to do is answer the door. Are you leaving Jesus outside on the porch or are you welcoming him into your life?

While we are here on planet earth is the time to develop that relationship with Him.  It’s the time to invite Him in and visit with Him and dine with Him.  It’s the time to grow into a strong, trusting, loving relationship with Him. When we die or are raptured up to meet Him, it will be too late.  Even those that attend church every Sunday and do all kind of “good”,  will not be spared judgment. If they don’t have a close relationship with Him, all the good they did will do no good. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name? Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!  

Now we all have those people who show up at our door and we hide in a backroom until they give up and go away, it’s okay you can admit it. But, when Jesus comes knocking, we need to listen.  If we refuse to open that door and invite him into our lives, we are making a huge mistake.

I want you to consider a few things today? If God is knocking, could you even hear it? Are you listening for him or are you letting the noises of this world drown him out? If you hear the knock, are you willing to open the door? Are you afraid that allowing Him in will mean giving up things that you think that you love? Well, I’ve been there and I can promise you that I didn’t give up anything that was worth nearly what God has given to me. I promise you that what he has to offer is so much better than what the world gives that you will never miss it. If you are waiting to open that door, don’t wait too long. We don’t know what our future holds, but He does. Maybe He knows that time is of the essence.  Maybe He will give up and you don’t want that, my friend.

If you don’t know Jesus, get to know Him.  There is no better friend. John 15:13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. Jesus already considers you His friend, He did give His life for you, after all. Why not squeeze Him into your busy schedule.  Open the door, invite Him in, spend some time with Him.  

You are going to spend eternity either in heaven with Him or hell with the devil.  So, whoever you befriend right now just may be who you are spending eternity with.  Think about that.

Have a great day!