Room For Rent

“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 sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

Now that we are firmly ensconced in the new digs, we have the opposite problem we had at the old place. We used to step all over each other due to lack of space, and we had no way to grow the congregation. Now we have 45,000 square feet, and we are only using a little over half of it. Part of our plan for buying a building like this was to rent out our unused space, and we are currently seeking renters for that. So far we have had a lot of “tire kickers”, but no real serious offers. If you know anyone who is interested in some really sweet space for a good deal, send them my way. I will give you a finder’s fee – lunch at your favorite diner.

While we attempt to open our doors to suitable renters, there are far too many people who have closed the doors of their heart to Jesus Christ. We are all familiar with the Christmas story and how Joseph and Mary were turned away in Bethlehem because there was “no room in the inn.” That is an object lesson of the condition of the hearts of men. We fill it with everything under the sun except for the one who died for our sins. Jesus told the parable of the sower of the seed in Matthew 13, and how the word of God enters into the various types of hearts in men and women. Most of them are closed to the truth for various reasons. Satan sends his minions to catch away the word out of the hearts of many before it has a chance to do any of its work. Others let trials and persecution rob them of the joy we can have through a walk with the Lord. There will always be troubles in this life. Jesus makes them manageable and will even give us victory in the midst of them, but when we close the door of our hearts to him, how can he do so? Still others receive the word, but then the “cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” are allowed to enter in. We fill our hearts with things that are going to perish someday, and the eternal Son of God and his word get crowded out. The result is a life “unfruitful” in the things that really matter.

When a person gets saved, Jesus enters his heart through the Holy Spirit and takes up permanent residency. In a strict doctrinal sense, we open the door of our heart and allow the Lord to “sup” with us at the moment of salvation. But for most Christians, Jesus is allowed to “rent” a corner of the attic as long as he keeps his distance and doesn’t bother us. He has to use the back entrance so that none of our neighbors know he is there. We ignore his tenancy unless an emergency takes place, then we expect him to immediately jump and take care of it. If he doesn’t, we blame him for the problem. If you rented from someone who treated you that way, you would find another place to live. You would almost rather be homeless that live that way. Yet his promise remains: he will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). His unlimited love for his own compels him to give us his very best even when we do not return the favor. The Bible says he will have the pre-eminence. Every knee shall bow. Someday he will be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. You would be thrilled and honored beyond belief if your favorite dignitary came to visit your home. You have the God of the Universe living inside your body if you are saved. Give him his due and his proper place at all times. He deserves it, and your life will be better for it.

One of the great old hymns says:
Have you any room for Jesus, He who bore your load of sin?
As he knocks and asks admission, Sinner will you let him in?
Room for Jesus, King of glory! Hasten now, his word obey;
Swing the heart’s door widely open, Bid him enter while you may.

If you do not know Jesus as your Saviour, open the door and let him in. If you have done that, make him the guest of honor in every moment and place in your life.