Let's Eat

For all those who do not remember the glory days of the vacuum salesman, I will give a brief history of this most annoying institution. Imagine sitting at your table or in the family room enjoying a peaceful afternoon and you hear a knock on the door. Upon answering the knock you find a gentleman, whom you have never met, standing on your front step. This gentleman will be extremely polite and have an uncanny ability to convince you to invite him into your home to discuss your need for a vacuum. With your consent to the meeting, the salesman will visit the trunk of his land yacht (company cars of your grandparents' age) and haul out a briefcase that could second for ... yep you guessed it - a coffin. Dragging this mammoth case into your home, the once polite man becomes a sales machine with rapid fire pitch capabilities and the training to effectively assemble and disassemble the most complicated contraption you have ever seen, like a Marine field stripping his rifle. Of course the regret begins almost immediately, and soon you are agreeing to buy a vacuum just to see this plague removed from your home. Such were the days of the Vacuum Salesman.

With this full understanding of the door to door vacuum professional, let me assure you that Jesus is not a Vacuum Salesman. While He does state through the revelator, John, in the book of Revelation that He (Jesus Christ) stands "at the door and knocks", his purpose is certainly not to sell you anything. Jesus is not one to pressure with rapid fire sales pitches, catchy gadgets or flashy power points. Jesus does not even have a briefcase!

The Son of God simply knocks, desiring to share with those who will answer. He wants to share a truth that will change their lives. What's that truth? The truth is Jesus wants to eat with you. That's it according to the referenced scripture. If a person opens the door, Jesus will enter and "eat" with them. That seems a little silly but it is the truth. You see, we have over complicated this church thing to fit the needs of religion. Jesus wants to commune with you. He wants to sit at your table and talk. He wants you to share your life with Him and He will share His life with you.

Here is another interesting thing about the referenced scripture: it was written to the church. In fact it was written to the church of Laodicea, an early church back in the days of the Apostle John and it is used in this scripture as a type of church similar to the one we have around us now. That would be the not hot and not cold church. Our riches have obscured our eyes from our need and we are busy showing off church without really experiencing life with Jesus. We are not inviting our Savior into our home and sharing our life with Him. In other words, our hearts are closed because our hands are full.

Can you hear the knock? Do you hear Him over the noise and clutter? Can you hear Him past the schedule and business? Can you hear Jesus beyond the blare of your in home technology? He knocks. Go ahead. Open the door.

Revelation 3:20