Come In, Jesus!

Imagine such a picture. The president of your country promised you that he would personally visit you to get to know you, communicate with you, learn about your problems and needs, eat together with you, and stay overnight to continue communication the next day. And this should happen soon. At first, such a promise would bring you great excitement. What would you start doing? I think any hostess would take care of a big treat and keep her house clean and tidy. I would do the same. I would also make a list of questions and needs that could be resolved and fulfilled thanks to the president.

Time passes, and he is still not here. I am busy with my affairs and waiting for the visit. And suddenly I hear a knock at the door and a voice calling my name. Strange. Presidents do not come like this. Who am I that he would be my guest? And somehow he knocks so modestly; presidents do not knock like this. And if it is him, what does he want from me? Maybe I should open the door? And what will I show? I am simply not ready for this meeting. A mountain of unwashed dishes, dirty floors, no food, I am unshaven. And what will I tell the president? Perhaps this is not even him. Out of so many millions of citizens, the president chose to visit me? This simply cannot be. Definitely. Cannot be. I just don't believe it's him. Who knows who might be walking around! I would definitely recognize the president immediately. What should I do? In any case, my apartment is the territory of the country where not even the president can enter without my permission. And if it is him, and I let him in, no one will believe me that this is possible. Where has it been heard that a president would visit his citizens? I'd rather read about him on the Internet. This is definitely not him. But even if it is him, what does he want? And such a quiet knock. But the voice sounds familiar. Well, for example, it's the president. Good, I'll open the door for him, let him in, and what will change? No, I have no desire to communicate with anyone. How everything has annoyed me!

The knocking has stopped. No voice is heard. Finally, he left. Maybe it all seemed to me? And what changed in my life? Nothing. I am still the same, all things are in their places, life goes on as usual. No problems. Life is arranged, and all issues can be resolved without the president. He has more important things to do. Good that I did not open. I know what to do next and how to live. Money is enough for everything, clothes are sufficient, food is plentiful, and I am happy. And I need nothing. Thank you to the country's leadership for arranging everything so well. The main thing is that there is no war, and we'll survive the rest. I heard from my neighbor that the president also came to him, and they communicated. True, the neighbor became somewhat strange, as if not of this world. Probably got proud.

The saddest thing in this whole story is that this is the reality of our time. This situation looks approximately the same in Heaven's eyes. I imagine the surprise of heavenly beings when they rejoice in the prospects of many changes in the lives of God's children, but in reality, nothing special happens.

Sometimes I wonder what would change in the church's life if the Spirit of God were taken from us? Would we notice it? Would we run in panic and search for what was lost? Would this loss be a shock to us? And who is the Spirit of God? And what does He do in our midst? How to understand if it is He or not? Seems like the same prayers, the same deeds, work, stores, meetings with friends, church services. What changed? So many good deeds have accumulated. And there is catastrophically little time for everything, including even sleep. And my business and my work seem to have nothing to do with God. What would change in the lives of my near and far ones? They did not want to listen about God, and they still do not listen. Only they have all become overly irritable, aggressive.

And what will actually change in your life, friend? Please answer this question honestly.

Unfortunately, our world is so comfortably arranged in all spheres of life that everything can work independently without special external intervention. And the most terrible thing is that it creates an impression as if God does not exist. And if people even say that God exists, it is in the form of a joke, gloating over someone's misfortune or accident, considering it a just karma. How to help these people understand that they cannot live like this? God's name has become so insignificant that it is now written with a lowercase letter and inserted into conversation for word linking or to enhance swearing. Medicine, science, technology, discoveries, inventions – all this has moved forward in its development. But the Bible has not changed at all, and God is still the Same. He has not even changed clothes in all these thousands of years. And it has become normal to believe that faith in God is something for grandmothers who have nothing else to do.

But the Lord is faithful to His word. He accomplishes what He has planned, managing the destinies of individual people and entire nations. His plans will be fulfilled regardless of whether I believe in this or not.

Interestingly, in all this bustle, Jesus comes personally to me and to each of you. He stands at the door of my heart and knocks. He desires to give me something that I do not have. And what shall I answer? I decided to say: "Come in, Lord!" It is difficult for me to understand what should happen, but I see that very close, trusting relationships have appeared between us. I have access to Jesus at any time and can consult with Him. When trials come, I do not get lost in guesswork or panic but turn to Him for advice and help. And it comes. Not always in the form of deliverance, but in the strength to correctly solve and endure any difficulty. God's peace has become a barometer of my well-being. If I lose it, I begin to look for the reason and find it. God's Spirit has become so much mine that I cannot imagine life without Him. He does not create amazing things to amaze others, but He amazes me with His miracles in my life and my character. If I say that all transformations occurred by my will and strength, I am sure I would offend God, who works so wonderfully in me. Not I, but Christ in me produces desires and actions according to His good pleasure. I am afraid to imagine that He would leave me. I would understand this immediately. And then what? Everything would collapse in one second. What to live for? For what? Where to go? But Jesus promised that He would not leave me, and no one would snatch me from His hand.

And without love, I am nothing. And I understand this clearly. If everything is taken from me except love, I will be the richest person on earth. I know how beautiful love is and what power resides in it. This power has transformed my life, and now it is changing the lives of those who believe in it and accept it. Through love, Jesus can best convey to me the essence and meaning of His teaching and reveal the beauty of His character. Sometimes I think how great it would be if God loved me as I love my loved ones. However, I know that He loves me even more than I love anyone. From this, my heart becomes so joyful.

Glory to God!!!

I would rather ask Jesus to enter my house once more, even if He already lives there. I will do this for myself to know for sure that Christ is within. I believe that Jesus heard and answered and is acting. He is an interesting Friend. And the closer I get to know Him, the more I fall in love with Him. If anything is necessary for a person in this world, then personal knowledge of Jesus is the most important and interesting occupation in the world. "Come in, Jesus!"

Reflection Questions for this Chapter

1. What did you understand from this chapter?

2. Do you see the work of the Holy Spirit in your life?

3. How do you understand the expression: "Let Jesus into my heart"? How does this happen in life?

4. To whom does Jesus address, standing at the door and knocking, in Revelation 3:20?

5. Do I have the Holy Spirit in me? How is this manifested?

6. What should I do for God's power to act in me through love?

7. Please read John 10:27-29; Revelation 22:17; Isaiah 26:20; Acts 16:14-15; Deuteronomy 31:8; 1 Chronicles 28:9 in light of this chapter.