An "Open" Invitation

An Open Invitation
Revelation 3:20

Usually when we hear this verse, it is during invitation time. The pastor or preacher is saying that god is standing at the door of your heart and he is knocking. If you will let Him in, He will come in and live with you and in you. Though this application is not heretical, it is not a directly what this verse is saying. You might say preachers are taking the actual meaning and making it analogous to the invitation to salvation.

So what does this verse actually mean? To be honest, I did not seek out this verse to meditate on. The Holy Spirit carried me to this verse while I was meditating on what it means to seek the face of God. As we look at what this verse really means, let look at three things: the audience, the door, and the fellowship or communion.

The Audience. The Book of Revelation is addressed to believers. It was written to give those who were suffering from persecution under the Roman government hope. It said to them (and to us) that though it is looking grim, the war is already won; though they appear to be winning, in the end they lose. The early part of Revelation was written to specific churches in Asia Minor. To some, Jesus gave compliments; to other He gave rebukes. One such church that was rebuked was Laodicea.

Jesus called Laodicea the lukewarm church. They were the fence-sitters. They were not necessarily pro-Jesus nor were they necessarily anti-Jesus. They sort of went with the flow. This is how they dealt with persecution. They adapted their behavior to the situation. They were not like Paul who said I become all things to all men that I may perhaps win some. They compromised their testimony to get along and avoid being called out, ridiculed, tortured, or put to death. There are many in the world today that can identify with the Laodiceans.

Jesus was telling them that He would rather that they chose a side. Either be for Him 100% or be against Him, but they can’t have it both ways. His encouragement to them was that though they had forsaken Him, He had not forsaken them. He told them that He was standing at the door (of their church and of their hearts) and that if they would open the door, He would come in and commune with them.

What is the door? The door was the barrier that kept them from giving their all to Jesus. Jesus instructed us to count the cost before we decided to become disciples. Some did not count the cost. When they chose to become disciples, they then realized the cost of that choice. Some shrank back. Jesus said to them that if they would overcome their fear and dedicate their life to Him; if they chose to lay down their lives for His sake and the Gospel’s, then He would accept them. They needed to love Him more than they loved their own lives or their own safety. If they would say to Him, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back’, then He would come to them and empower them to be His witnesses and be His people.

The Communion. What would He do once He comes? He said He would dine or commune with them and they with Him. He would fellowship with them. He would establish and sustain a relationship with them. He would speak to them and through them. He would teach them. He would empower them for ministry. He would edify them individually and corporately. He would guide them into all truth. He would open to them the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. He would make them His witnesses in the world.

This is the thing that Jesus is promising us today. As Christians, Jesus already lives in us. But because the cares of the world or fear of rejection or persecution, we are not the people He has called us to be. We are timid, fearful, and weak. We compromise our testimony before the world because we seek to fit in to get in. However, "God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7)." If we turn our eyes to Him and focus on Him, then we can walk in the spirit and be strong enough not to give in to the fears or temptations of the flesh.

The song says, “What a friend we have in Jesus?” It should say, “What a friend we could have in Jesus?” Thank God it doesn’t because though we do not seek to be God’s friend, He is ours. The fact that we do not take advantage of that relationship is not God’s fault. He is waiting willing, and able. To His friends, He is willing to open up the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Bible says, "[He has] made known to us the mystery of His will…(Ephesians 1:9).” Not only that, but through the blood shed by His son, which makes this relationship possible, we have access to the Father.

It is pointless just complaining to the weatherman because he only reports the weather, but talk to Him who can control the weather. It avails little talking to a doctor, he can only do so much, but talk to the Great Physician who has never lost a patient. It avails little to talk to an attorney, but take your case to the Great Advocate who has never lost a case. You can waste money on a therapist or talk to the Mighty Counselor who can give you peace that surpasses all understanding. Whatever the reason, we can go directly to Him and tell Him about our fears, our concerns, and our desires. You cannot shock God because He already knows you and your heart. He knows us better than we know ourselves. The Bible says, "The heart is deceitful about all things and desperately wicked; who can know it (Jer. 17:9)?” I tell you, God can. And He can cleanse it and change it. Only He has the power to transform your life.

Behold, Jesus stands nearby and is inviting you and me to come have a personal and real relationship with Him. Not a relationship that is superficial, but one that is intimate. He is not looking for casual friends. He has plenty of those. He is inviting you and me to be best friends, BFFs, if you will. What will your response be?