In Fredric Brown's short story thriller “Knock”, he wrote, “The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door.” Yikes! Who could that be, and what do they want? What mysterious being has come for him? The man is not alone.
Neither are we.
The church in Laodicea heard a knock on their door (Revelation 3:20). What supernatural Being had come for them? His name was Jesus, “the First and the Last . . . the Living One” (1:17–18). His eyes blazed like fire, and His face “like the sun shining in all its brilliance” (v. 16). When His best friend, John, caught a glimpse of His glory, he “fell at his feet as though dead” (v. 17). Faith in Christ begins with the fear of God.
We’re not alone, and this is also comforting. Jesus “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3). Yet Christ uses His strength not to slay us but to love us. Hear His invitation, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20). Our faith begins with fear—Who is at the door?—and it ends in a welcome and strong embrace. Jesus promises to always stay with us, even if we’re the last person on earth. Thank God, we’re not alone.
By Mike Wittmer
REFLECT & PRAY
Why can’t we separate Christ’s power from His love? Why are both vitally important?
Jesus, I welcome You into my heart and life.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The letter to Laodicea (Revelation 3:14–22) is the only one to the seven churches in Asia Minor (see chs. 2–3) with no praise at all for the church. Regardless, we find comfort amid God’s warnings. The reference to “salve to put on your eyes” (3:18) has relevance for Laodicea because the region was known for its medicines, including an eye salve. But the Laodiceans’ vision problem wasn’t physical but spiritual. Their wealth had given them the illusion of self-sufficiency ( vv. 15–17), prompting what seems like a threat from God: “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline” (v. 19). Yet this signalled that God hadn’t abandoned the church. He loved them enough to correct them.
Tim Gustafson
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