That Verse You Love: Christian, Jesus knocks on your door
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The most beautiful thing about following Jesus is this: I know there is something deeply wrong with me that makes me utterly unlovely, but he loves and takes care of me anyway.
I also know that the deep flaw inside of me presents itself the most when I am least aware of it.
When I think I am good, and that I’m finally “making it” is when I’m furthest from following Jesus, because “making it” is often confused for “making it on my own.”
And that’s what makes Revelation 3:20 so ironic.
Often, while presenting the gospel, a believer will quote Jesus saying, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
But Jesus wasn’t talking to unbelievers in that passage.
So often, the person quoting the verse needs to believe, understand and apply it to themselves, more than the person they quote it to.
Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation contain seven letters dictated by Jesus to the apostle John, and intended for the churches in seven cities located in modern-day Turkey.
Jesus commends churches for what they do well, and exhorts them to improve on their weaknesses. The last church, however, does not receive any pats on the back.
Jesus said to the church in Laodicea, “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.’” (Revelation 3:16-19)
He says this to believers. That’s what a church is. This letter — these words from the letter — are to a group of believers who meet regularly. That’s what a church is.
I share the same deep flaw with every other human who has ever lived: an almost inexorable predisposition to do the opposite of what God calls good. A nearly indomitable urge to act independently of God. A delusion that I am qualified to govern and form the world and circumstances around me according to my will. In short — sin.
Not only did the Laodiceans share this flaw, they had forgotten all about it.
And like me, they were furthest from following Jesus when they forgot about their deep flaw, and began to believe they had begun to “make it” on their own. Such a person is not useful to God as they are, and Jesus’ desire was for them (and us) to see ourselves accurately, and depend on Jesus to “give us this day our daily bread.”
He wants us to depend on him daily, even if that bread is already in the refrigerator. The Laodiceans had forgotten to do that.
We can’t be too hard on them, though. I often forget to do this as well, and I suspect you do, too.
But there’s good news! Jesus wants us to turn back to him. He even promised: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
The simple fact of the New Testament is that it was mostly written to people who had already put their trust in Jesus. Therefore, believers are commanded to repent far more often than unbelievers.
Do you remember Jesus’ parable about a lost sheep he went to find? In context, that sheep represented a believer who was sinning. Remember the prodigal son? He also represented a believer who had sinned.
And if you come to the place where you believe that the lost sheep and the prodigal son and the Laodiceans in need of repentance do not represent you, you are the very kind of person Jesus is urging to repent.
You are the very person who says, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” when you are actually “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,” just like the rest of us. So repent, and enjoy the company of the God who loves sinners.