Knock, Knock, Knocking... On Which Door?

PS ALLAN QUAK | NORTHSIDE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

The scenario is a familiar one; as is the testimony.

Samantha is a sinner. She comes to a point in her life where she needs to change—but she is not sure why. Later in her spiritual journey, someone explains to her that it was Jesus knocking at the door of her heart. Inevitably they turn to Revelation 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and The The scenario is a familiar one; as is the testimony.

Samantha is a sinner. She comes to a point in her life where she needs to change—but she is not sure why. Later in her spiritual journey, someone explains to her that it was Jesus knocking at the door of her heart. Inevitably they turn to Revelation 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

This verse is often interpreted as a powerful image of the need for transformation, and the calling of Jesus to repent. Asking Jesus into our heart … opening the door … it is certainly a response that can be called for when we understand the

It is all true.

But that the primary purpose and application of Revelation 3:20? (This would be a good time to open your Bible and read Revelation 3:14-22.)

Looking at the context, we see that this section was written to “the angel of the church of Laodicea”. Many books and scholarly articles have been written trying to identify the “angel”. For all the discussion, there is general agreement that these verses were written to a specific group of believers based in Laodicea. They were a fellowship gathered by the grace of Jesus—an “ecclesia”. To this group Jesus says, “those whom I love I rebuke and discipline”.

Have you ever tried to discipline someone else’s child in the supermarket? It is a mistake you will only ever do once. The dynamic here, is that the ones that we rebuke, and discipline are those who are already part of the family. That includes the spiritual family: -

“The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. (Hebrews 12:6-8)

Discipline is not for those who are outside the faith, and who have not repented. The discipline here is for those who have experienced “ecclesia”. In Revelation 3:14-22 Jesus is speaking to those who have already experienced converting grace. To these people Jesus, in the Greek text, literally says: - “You make Me vomit”. Jesus uses graphic language to describe His revulsion of this church because the church was under a delusion. They thought all was OK between them and God, but they were wrong. They were “lukewarm”.

There is a historical reference here. Laodicea was famous for producing an eye-cream that was in wide demand throughout the Roman world (which gives significance to the words in Revelation 3:18). The city was also famous because it had no central water supply. No rivers. No lakes. No wells. There were some cold springs – 20km away at Colossae. There was also a hot spring located 8km south of the city. To get the water, the city engineers of Laodicea constructed a rather ingenious aqueduct of stone pipes that brought the water from the hot springs into the town. The water came out of the ground very hot—but by the time it travelled through the stone pipes and reached the city of Laodicea, it had become lukewarm.

Lukewarm water is useless water. It’s like being in the middle of a hot day and taking a sip of room temperature watered-down-all-the-fizz-gone Coke. You just want to spit it out.

Laodicea was lukewarm – neither hot nor cold.

To these people Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock.”

It is not an invitation for conversion— it is an invitation for renewal. An invitation spoken to a church that says, “I am rich I do not need anything” (Revelation 3:17). The modern word we use for this condition is “Affluence”. Affluence is the capacity of wealth to spiritually seduce us.

Affluence tries to insulate us from coming to a real understanding of just how needy we are. “Hey, I’m doing pretty well in life, I’m getting along great. I’m not sure I even really need Jesus that much.” Affluence distracts us from the things of God. The more affluent you are, the more toys you can afford, and the more time you need to use those toys. The more affluence you have, the more opportunities are open for you to do things other than what God might be calling you to do.

Affluence tries to seduce us to believe that luxuries are necessities while, in the meantime, we turn the necessity of a living relationship with Jesus into a luxury.

Affluence, when not spiritually dealt with, can cause the church to churn the stomach of Jesus. On those occasions when affluence has penetrated the church, Jesus knocks. He is NOT knocking on the door of the heart of the unconverted; he IS knocking on the door of the affluent “you-make-Me-want-to-vomit” believers. Jesus knocks because He wants us to identify with Him once again.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

As He knocks Jesus is saying, “You” — not “You” as in individual but “You” as a church — “You” who are affluent and lukewarm. “Do you want to identify with me in my poverty?”

The primary focus of these verses is not individualistic, but corporate. The application for QB churches is to read Revelation 3:20 and then ask two very important questions.

1. Is Jesus knocking because QB churches are caught up in affluence?

2. If Jesus is knocking, are we willing to do what is necessary to be victorious?