One-a-Day...for the Heart: Behind Door Three

It’s a simple question, but one we need to ask more often of those around us: Have you opened the door of your heart to Jesus Christ? In Revelation 3:20 (The Passion Translation), Jesus said, “Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear my voice and you open the door within, I will come into you and feast with you, and you will feast with me.”

We close doors for many reasons—privacy, safety, solitude, to name a few. I close my bedroom door when I’m wrapping Christmas presents and don’t want inquisitive grandkids barging in on me, hoping to sneak a peek at their gifts. We close doors or rather slam doors on others when we’re angry or want to shut them out for whatever reason. (Not okay, by the way.) I remember a friend who, having learned of the sudden death of a loved one, closed and locked her door as she sobbed and grieved alone. Being on the other side of her locked door, I felt helpless to console her. It was a devastating feeling to want to offer comfort and be with one in such pain, but to be rejected.

Closed doors can be foreboding. Tensions build as contestants on Let’s Make a Deal try to decide if they want to keep the prize they have already secured or take a chance on what is behind Door Three (or another door). They already know the value of what they have, but behind another door could be a much more valuable prize, so some choose to take a chance on the unknown.

Let’s say our lives are the prize we’re already holding in our hands—our families, careers, faith levels, health, etc. that are in full view (we think) and are known to us. Perhaps you are a believer in Jesus Christ but do not fully understand or want any more from Him except an entrance ticket into Heaven when you die. Holding onto the life you’ve planned and are enjoying seems like a satisfying prize, so why take a chance on another door? At some point in life, it is inevitable that trouble will present itself through disease, financial upset, tragedy, or another unpleasant situation, according to Jesus. “In the world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” He said in John 16:33.

Who’s to say but that by trusting Jesus with a little bit more of your time, money, and life, you have opened Door Two, and healing for your disease or help with your finances are there? Take a chance on surrendering more of yourself to Him! If I felt devastated when my friend rejected the heartfelt sympathy I wanted to express to her, imagine what Jesus feels when we keep the door closed on His heartfelt love, forgiveness, and friendship by rejecting His knock on the door of our hearts. As we trust Christ more and go deeper in our relationship with Him, the prizes behind the doors increase beyond what we can imagine.

Jesus continued in Revelation 3:21, and said, “And to the one who conquers, I will give the privilege of sitting with me on my throne, just as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Compare that prize to what you’re holding in your satisfied little hands!

The next paragraph in Revelation is the Apostle John’s description of what he saw after Jesus spoke the words about our hearing and responding to His knocking. I think it’s what lies Behind Door Three!

Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast. The voice said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things." And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it! The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones — jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. And from the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven lampstands with burning flames. They are the seven spirits of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings had the form of a lion; the second looked like an ox; the third had a human face, and the fourth had the form of an eagle with wings spread out as though in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty — the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come," (Revelation 4:1-8 NLT).

Wow oh wow. Friend, if He’s knocking, take a chance and answer the door!!