“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and OPENS THE DOOR, I will COME IN TO HIM…” (Rev. 3:20) The first thing we learn about Jesus, He wants to come into our lives! Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word (obey me); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and MAKE OUR HOME WITH HIM.” (John 14:23)
So, how do we make this happen? We must realize that, “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Rom 3:23) and unfortunately, “the wages of sin is DEATH…” but thankfully, “the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) How do we get this gift, remember above Jesus is knocking on our hearts door! How do we open it up to Him? “Repent (metanoeō: turn away from sin) and turn to God, so that your sins may be WIPED OUT, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord and He will SEND YOU JESUS, your Messiah.” (Acts 3:19-20) Remember what Jesus said, “we will come and make our home WITH YOU.”
What happens when our sins are wiped out? “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have PASSED AWAY; behold, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW.” (2 Corin. 5:17) The “old” refers to everything that is part of our old nature—natural pride, love of sin, reliance on works, and our former opinions, habits and passions. Most significantly, what we loved HAS PASSED AWAY, especially the supreme LOVE OF SELF and with it self-righteousness, self-promotion, and self-justification. The new creature looks outwardly toward Christ instead of inwardly toward self. The old things died, NAILED TO THE CROSS with our sin nature. The heavens and the earth are filled with NEW WONDERS, and all things seem now to speak forth the praise of God. There are new feelings toward all people—a NEW KIND OF LOVE toward family and friends, a NEW COMPASSION never before felt for enemies, and a new love for all mankind.
-Bill Stockham