Knock, Knock

We recently watched a movie, freely available on YouTube, titled The Perfect Stranger, the story of Nikki, a troubled attorney, who gets a dinner invitation from someone calling Himself "Jesus Christ." The movie takes place primarily in the restaurant where they meet and talk. Interesting movie, mostly. In the end he told her they would do it again sometime and she finds a note from Jesus that quotes Revelation.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. (Rev 3:20)

Cute, coming from "We'll do this dinner thing again sometime." And we're familiar with the quote. How many times has that been offered as an invitation at an altar call or a revival meeting? How many times have we given that quote to encourage unbelievers to come to Christ? We even have a famous painting of the event. It goes right along with the whole "God is a gentleman" routine. There's only one real problem: It's not in there.

The text in question is found in a letter from Jesus to the angel of the church in Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22). The letter to this church is one of seven to various churches. Most of the letters include both commendations and condemnations. "You're doing this well, but you have that to work on." Not this one. Laodicea has nothing to commend them and Jesus's recommendation to them is "be zealous and repent" (Rev 3:19) or there will be dire consequences. So when He says, "I stand at the door and knock," He is speaking, figuratively, of standing at the door of the church at Laodicea and knocking. "Is there anyone in this church who hears My voice?" It is not a call to believe. It is reminiscent of Jesus's words in John's gospel, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27) (See also John 10:3-4, 16.)

The church in Laodicea that Christ addressed was "wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." It's not that there were no believers present. It's that they were lukewarm (Rev 3:16) and wrapped up in self-confidence (Rev 3:17) rather than trusting Christ (Rev 3:18). The "I stand at the door and knock" speech wasn't a warm and friendly invitation for the unsaved. It was an ominous call to repentance and return for wayward believers. It did indeed offer hope (Rev 3:20-21), but to suggest this is an "altar call" and the meek and mild Christ is being a gentleman misses the point entirely. The message is clear. Jesus is saying, "Open the door, church, because right now I'm outside and that doesn't bode well for you." We should probably check ourselves and see if we're listening, too.