He had conquered his world and amassed his fortune. His lands, his streets, his buildings all carried his name, so that his family could be remembered for his hard work, forever. He was constantly tearing down warehouses and building bigger ones to store the content of his success. He even gave a token of his earning to the poor to appear respectable ... Until one evening at a family business celebration, just as the family was applauding his self praises ... A massive pain gripped his life. As his hand reached toward his chest and he fell into eternity. And his children took his place in the business and followed in his steps while quoting his sayings.
Psalm 49:13 - "This ... Their way ... Is their folly: yet their posterity approve their words."
They had conquered their part of "The World" and amassed their "spiritual" fortune. Their lands, their streets, their buildings all carried their name ... And their endeavors were always "To the glory of the Name." So that the world could see the greatness of the Kingdom of God, they were always building bigger and better "storehouses" to gather in those who had been won to their excitement. They gave a token of their success to the halt, the lame , the maimed, and the blind to appear compassionate in the Kingdom of men.
Until one evening at a family success celebration, just as the family was lifting up the loud songs that they loved so much, and self praises rippled through the gathering hall, a massive unseen and silent pain gripped the congregation as their hands were extended upward. Even while they offered proof to those around them that they were not ashamed, a deadly ache wedged deeply between their souls and their God. Change and Difference was always shown the door as the offspring of the congregation followed right after their predecessors, jostling for positions and congregational possessions while quoting the sayings of those who had led them.
Unknowingly, they had become the same giant mirage in the Kingdom ... bringing in to the walls of their success ...only those who they could comfortably fold into their subculture. "What's right will be done, but will be done only within these walls!" And all the people said "Amen!" Heaven shuttered with shame.
The Body of Christ, the Church, is THE "called out" assembling of believers who have full intimate connection with God through the LORD Jesus Christ. With that connection there is a clear purpose filled calling ... To "GO!" Into all the world with the Good News of Jesus. That connection and calling avails to them the non exhaustive supply of Heaven, and allows the follower to be fully whole in their redemptive work among men.
Why amass, hoard, squander and ration the provisions of grace that God so freely gives? Why have we become far too enamored with the glimmer, the power, the feelings and the sounds of our anemic offering of worship? Have we excused away the nail pierced hand that was knocking at our door because it always seems to toll in a moment of inconvenience.
- It is common knowledge also, that to truly allow Him in would mean we would have to bear the stigma of the suffering servant and bear the enigma of the thorn laden crown.
- Opening the door, though promised fellowship, will mean submission to the Heart for the broken and the outcast.
- And to have His full indwelling will mean the emotional risk of being ostracized by the weight of the cross.
- And standing in His stead means that we live on the "cliff"...
All of these images speak risk, discomfort and isolation ... But taking the step of faith to answer "the knock of the nail pierced hand" brings Him in to our lives so that we can then truly know Him and the power of His Resurrection.
Have we hesitated to answer His knock because we have washed our feet and are done for the day (we already gave at the office)? Inconvenienced to put on our work coat once again and to soil our feet is not the choice of the clean and comfortable, but it is the Way of the Lover. There is nothing that is an inconvenience for love ... "If I would give all the contents of my house for love, my house would be totally ransacked."
Song of Solomon 5:4 - "My beloved put in His hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him."
Is our heart still moved by the thought that He wants to walk with us?
Unto the Lukewarm ... Because of self-sufficiency and self accomplishment ... "Unto the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans (people conquerors) write , These things saith the Amen, the faithful witness, the origin of the creation of God" (read Rev. 3:14-19) ; Get the picture ... The next verse is not to be watered down as comforting or challenging cliche; because it is a call to the popularly accepted church who has grown comfortable with its methods and walls. We think that the risk is to be more relevant to today, but the real risk is found in total dependence with the devotional walk that He calls us to. This devotion consecrates us daily to becoming more and more enamored by Him and less and less attracted to the decorations and distractions of the world.
Rev. 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."
Do we hear His voice ... Will we open the door?
HLFA,
Jeff
