Open or Leave?

We are all waiting for a glorious event with which we associate many of our hopes, and which will change everything in our lives, giving us much more than we can imagine. This is the Second Coming of Christ. Whether I believe in it or not, whether I am waiting for this event or not, whether I am making plans for this time or living for myself, it will happen regardless of how I relate to it or prepare for it. Christ will come on the clouds of heaven with all His angels, and it will truly be an impressive sight. And His Coming does not depend on my faith or my expectations. It is unconditional, and it will happen on the day that Jesus decides by His authority.

However, it's interesting that the Lord has long promised to come. To each generation, He addressed with the phrase: "Behold, I am coming soon," and now, in our time, He says: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." What does this mean? This can only mean one thing - He has already come.

Please do not confuse these two events. Now Christ has come for the elect, to do something special for them and give them something, to help them change something in their lives and prepare them for something, and at the Second Coming, He will come for everyone to put an end to everything earthly and sinful and give those who are waiting and sinning what they deserve. To some - the right to life, to others - the right to death.

There will be a glorious resurrection from the dead, the transformation of human nature into immortality, there will be the ascension of all the righteous to Heaven into God's presence, and there will be the complete destruction of those who will receive the right to death. The earth will finally gain rest from man and will rest in this state for a thousand years.

But the message for our time is that Christ has already come. Whether I believe it or not, He is here, at the door, and He is knocking and asking to open. He is waiting for me to respond to this call. And this voice is audible. But Jesus' call also makes it clear that there will be those who, hearing, will not open and will not let in or, having let in once, will ask Him to leave. The word "if" indicates that someone will leave Christ standing outside the door of their heart forever and will not pay attention to the call to open and let in.

Has a friend ever come to visit you whom you didn't open the door to, knowing it was him? Not very pleasant memories. Either he was intrusive, or I was not ready for his visit, or the family situation did not allow me to let him in. And the friend didn't stand until I let him in, he didn't break into my door, but quietly left. And perhaps he visited me another time, and I received him. Earthly friends come and then leave, but Jesus wants to come to stay. And this is a huge difference. I understand what He wants. And I even sometimes ask Him to enter, but it happens that I then ask Him to leave my house so that I can be alone. And just in case, I close the door behind Jesus for Him, but not for temptations.

The enemy of the soul does not ask my permission for his visit, he breaks into the doors and windows of the soul, he bursts into life without asking and occupies free living space, putting his banner there, offering his friendship. He is not interested in my desires, but still he considers my choice. Satan tries to convince me that the voice behind the door is not so important, that I can still wait, that I am not ready for such a Guest yet. And the only thing that can drive the prince of darkness out of my life is the presence of Christ. And the enemy of the soul knows this and is afraid. I'm not afraid to live with such a dangerous guest who teaches me sin. He is my relative in the flesh, and Christ offers only spiritual values, which my flesh resists.

But somewhere in my soul, I dream of some changes in myself, I even read about it in the Bible. And I have already accepted a lot and believed in a lot. I open the window, lean out and ask Jesus to help me solve my problems, and He gladly helps me. He waits for me to open the door. And I go into the room and start singing psalms to the glory of God. And my demon friends sing along with me. Although sometimes they don't like my singing, and they tremble, fearing that under the influence of these words I will open the door for Christ, but I calm them with my desire to think and make a decision, putting it all off until tomorrow. And Jesus stands and knocks. And He sends me His friends to tell their experiences of life with Him, to show how good it will be for me if Christ settles with me. And I have so many important things, so many missionary projects, so much needs to be done before I die. I listen to them and rejoice that someday in old age I will still take this step, let the Lord in and dine with Him, and He will bless me and pour out His Spirit on me. And I will guide the youth on the true path, and everyone will listen to me and be touched. And I will point them to Jesus and teach them obedience. How interesting all this is!

In the parable of the ten virgins, there is a story that five of them were foolish. I never classified myself in this class, and I always felt sorry for them. I thought it was about pagans who were not interested in the wedding feast. Now I understand that this parable is about me, and that my vessel should be filled with oil. But I don't understand what it is. I know the answer, but how should it look in my life? Where is that Heavenly criterion by which I will be weighed? Will I be found light? What determines my weight?

In one of the museums in Switzerland, there are precise scales that they like to demonstrate to tourists. They put identical pieces of paper on both scales and the scales show equal weight. Then they take one piece of paper and put a signature on it and put it back. And the scale with the signature confidently pulls the scale down, showing that it is heavier than emptiness.

Will there be an inscription on my character that will give weight and significance to all my deeds?

I didn't think before about why Jesus came and stands at the door at this particular time, why He didn't come earlier? But this was His plan, not mine.

It is in our days that Christ decided to send me something unique that was not given to other people before me. And here He Himself has come and stands. He offers Himself for a special relationship with Him. He teaches me in a way that He has never taught anyone before. Why suddenly now? Simply because there is no time left. The door of grace is about to close. And then it will be too late to learn something. And now there are so many temptations, and they have become so accustomed to the church that they have become the norm of life among God's people. But it shouldn't be like this. God will not share His throne with sinners. And for this reason, Christ Himself decided to take the struggle of the last days into His own hands, for He understands that without His presence I will not stand. And Jesus never loses, so it's not me, but He in me and through me leads the fight and wins. This is His plan for the last time. And He stands at the door not for me to decide whether I need it or not, but to enter and teach me to fight and win. He gave me freedom of choice, but not for perdition. He suffers seeing my spiritual dying, and He does not rejoice in such an attitude towards Himself. Jesus does not leave offended if I delayed with the decision, but stands and knocks, knocks loudly and shouts. And He only leaves from those who have already forever decided not to open to Him and have confirmed this decision.

Questions for reflection on this chapter:

1. Please read Revelation 3:20-21; 3:8,11; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; 3:3; Revelation 17:14; 13:13-17; Matthew 24:21-25; Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 5:27; 12:1; Revelation 15:8; Isaiah 60:1-2 in light of this chapter.

2. What did you understand from this chapter?

3. What caused God's decision to send Christ into the world in this way before the end of Earth's history?

4. What advantage does the personal presence of Christ in my house give?

5. Where exactly does Jesus want to enter?

6. Why did the Lord limit His actions in the message to Laodicea to my choice?

7. If Jesus has entered my house, does this mean that He will now live in it forever, or is His stay conditioned by something?

8. Do you think your door is open for Christ?

9. What will happen to those who do not hear the voice of the Guest or do not open the door to Him?

10. Why did the Lord choose this particular plan?