Walking With the Word

(A Commonly misapplied Scripture)

Often, when gospel presentations are made, an offer is made using Revelation 3:20. It’s a lovely idea, Jesus knocking on the metaphorical door of our hearts asking to come in? A careful read, does not support this idea.

Text in Context

A straightforward reading of the immediate context is usually sufficient to clarify the intended meaning.

Read and ask yourself, to whom is Jesus writing?

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: … ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 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…

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 3:14-20)

Answer: The lukewarm, self-sufficient, wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked, ‘self-righteous’ Christian Church in Laodicea.

The Laodicean church is the seventh one to whom Jesus directs John to write; a real church in a real place.

The letters are not addressed to unbelievers.

Self-Sufficiency in the Church

It’s sad to think that when Jesus addresses lukewarm, self-sufficient, wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked people, He’s talking about Christian’s. It is still the sad reality of many churches and Christians today. The words of Jesus’ appeal to ‘Open the door,’ addresses Christians who seem to think they can manage without Him. Churches and Christians alike may feel they have everything in order, with all that they need, but they have forgotten how much they need Jesus. His appeal to us is for intimacy, reliance and relationship. This is especially counter-culture and counter-intuitive in a world that champions independence and self-sufficiency.

‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

(Matthew 7:22-23)

Cheap Grace instead of Deep Connection

We have become a nation of superficial thrill seekers, fun lovers and bucket-listers who want to experience everything life has to offer. For the Christian this often includes ‘experiencing’ God, but without really knowing Him; preferring perhaps mystical, goose-bump experiences or the form and function of ritual, to putting in the leg work for a real heart change that comes through a dynamic relationship with God and His life changing word.

By contrast,

• Jesus wants us to have ‘gold refined by fire,’ and refining gold takes time and sacrifice, but the end result is always worth it.
• Jesus wants us to wear ‘white garments,’ which covers our nakedness and our sin-caused shame.
• Jesus says we need ‘eye salve’ to remove our spiritual blindness.

Intimate Relationship Intended

Jesus is knocking on the door of ‘lukewarm’ Christians’ hearts. He wants them to commune with Him, to truly know Him, know His ways and to walk with Him through life; a two way communion. He wants them to be reliant upon Him and not upon themselves and to be involved in their everyday lives.

Marriage is a good example: if being married we live a self-reliant, independent life, as though we were single, the close relationship between husband and wife would disintegrate since a marriage is designed for a life in communion with one another.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

(James 4:8)

Perhaps as we get to know Jesus—through His Word, as we gather to grow in grace, and in personal prayer—we grow, learning to rely upon and trust His leading. In this way we receive the salve we so desperately need to see clearly, no longer in the foggy deceitfulness of an independent ego, of self reliance and self sufficiency; no longer a lukewarm Christian but making a real change within ourselves and outward to the world around us.

The ongoing Gospel

As previously said, appeals to respond to Jesus, about letting Him in are often used thus: “He is standing at the door and knocking at your heart to invite you in!”

But, salvation comes, not by inviting Jesus into our hearts, but by our response to the Gospel. It has little to do with our actions today, and everything to do with believing what happened on the Cross 2000 years ago.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

(Mark 1:15)

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved”

(Acts 16:31)

A person perhaps comes to faith when they believe the Gospel.

Revelation 3:20 shows us that a continued response is also required of us daily. Then the Christian can know Jesus and walk rightly and joyfully with Him through life—responding to the gospel is not only a one time event, but an ongoing daily learning to live in the light of His grace and mercy. Coming in to ‘sup’ with us is not a one time event.

A Challenge to the Lukewarm Christian (which definitely includes me from time to time)

Left Picture: Del Parson’s “Jesus at the door”

Right Picture: William Holman Hunt’s “Behold, I stand at the door and knock”

You may well already be on fire for Jesus, have Him direct your daily steps and know Him, and He you. Or perhaps we ought to consider the following questions:

• Are we the one with a nice clean door, a warm glow of self-righteousness from within?
• Or are we the one with overgrown weeds blocking the doorway with Jesus outside knocking, holding a light in his hand waiting patiently to be let in to ‘sup’ with us?

Each has its own dangers. Like a lukewarm meal both are unpalatable.

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