A Season of Hope ~ Preparing Our Hearts for Easter
Revelation 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.”
In 1904, the life-sized version of William Holman Hunt’s famous painting, “Light of the World” was hung in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It has always been my favorite religious painting and I have had the joy of seeing it in person several times. The allegorical painting represents the figure of Jesus preparing to knock on a door that illustrates our verse today, Revelation 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.” According to Hunt: “I painted the picture with what I thought, unworthy though I was, to be by Divine command, and not simply as a good Subject. The door in the painting has no handle, and can therefore be opened only from the inside, representing ‘the obstinately shut mind.’”
In the opening chapters of Revelation, John records messages from God to various churches that address their lack of fire, good deeds, and love within each church. One particular message was for the church of Laodicea. The citizens of the city of Laodicea had a problem that centered on an attitude of self-sufficiency and complacency. They had become comfortable, self-centered, and self-sufficient, and those attitudes had spilled over into the church. God pointed out their weakness, that they had become useless—“lukewarm.” His illustration was to point out that hot and cold water are good and useful, but lukewarm water is good for nothing. With their “obstinately shut minds” they had given up their pursuit of a thriving relationship with Jesus, no longer demonstrating a dependence on Him, thus becoming spiritually bankrupt and ineffective. They had a dire need for Jesus. The question was whether they would admit their need or leave Jesus outside and continue keeping up appearances.
And so, this brings us back to the painting of Jesus at the door which depicts the church, God’s people, leaving Jesus standing outside. Jesus, the Light of the World, stands at the door, not to break it down and push His way in, but The King of the Universe waits patiently for us to open the door, to invite Him in so we can experience a restored relationship with Him. This passage is as true for the church today as it was back then. Will we, God’s people, His beloved church—the lukewarm, complacent, self-sufficient, bankrupt, obstinant, ineffective church—let Jesus back in?
Dear God, for those of us who know You but our faith and actions have become lukewarm and ineffective like the church of Laodicea, forgive us, O Lord. This Lenten season, as we reflect on the promise of new life we have in Jesus and the sacrifice Jesus made to make that new life possible, we invite you to come back in to cleanse our hearts and take over our lives and attitudes. Thank you for knocking on the door and patiently waiting for us to open our hearts to a renewed relationship with You. May we always honor You. For those who are still seeking answers and long for the emptiness in their heart to be filled, we pray they would invite you in, sweet Savior, to embrace Your promised salvation and to place their faith in You. In Your redeeming name we pray. Amen.
