When the Door Closes

The suspense thrills us.  The excitement draws is in.  The agony makes our hearts ache.  

Not every movie has the scene, but some do.  And the ones that do, are incredibly intense. You've seen it, many times, I'm sure.  The main set of characters ends up in a tunnel or cave of some kind.  They are trapped on one end, and the only exit begins to close.  The door slowly inches its way down - as if some unknown source has pushed a garage door opener - threatening to trap the unprepared cast in a tomb-like structure forever.  Invariably, some make it out...and some do not.  Those who are trapped are left screaming incessantly for help from the other side, but to no avail.  Nothing can be done once the door closes.  

Now that I've gotten your attention, let me show you a similar, real life dilemma that WILL happen:  "When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' then you will begin to say, ' We ate and drank in Your presence and You taught in our streets.' But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from.  Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity."  Luke 13:25-27.

Talk about suspense...except this kind will not end once the last credit has rolled off the screen.  This suspense and drama is not made up of actors or actresses who get paid to play a part.  This kind of drama is real...very real...scary real.  

Jesus is saying that there are many of us - many in the church - who have no clue that they are seriously still trapped in their sin.  The ones He is speaking of - the ones of the other side of that cold, heavy door - are "church-goers." These people may even sing in the choir, but on THAT day, they have the surprise of their very lives thrust upon them.  They, who thought they knew Jesus and were known by Him, are actually just viewers of His grace, not participants.  

Look back at the passage.  Those who were locked outside - those who He said He didn't know - weren't the ones lying in some alley somewhere.  They weren't the ones had never seen Jesus, nor heard His teaching.  They weren't the ones who were in the bars and doing illegal and illicit things while Christ was in their city.  

No.  

The scary thing is, the people who are left outside, are the people who were very familiar with Jesus.  They were so familiar that they had eaten dinner with Him on occasion.  He possibly had even been in their homes.  They followed Him down the street as He taught of grace and mercy, sin and forgiveness - probably shaking their heads in agreement the entire time.  

No, they were not unfamiliar with Jesus.  They were very familiar...maybe, too familiar. Maybe they were SO familiar that they assumed He would NEVER close the door on them. After all,they KNEW Jesus.  They were His "buds."  Jesus was "alright with them."  Yet, in reality, He never knew them.  These people simply assumed a Family relationship because of their knowledge of Him, without ever actually being adopted into His family.  

O beloved of God - this is not meant to scare you.  It's not meant to threaten you  It's meant to make you think - really think about your relationship with Jesus.  Is it real?  Is your time with Him MORE than just your name on a church roll or your presence on the pew?  Is your relationship with Him solid?  Have you indeed turned from your previous way of life and accepted the LIFE He gives?  If not, please don't wait for the door to close.  Then it will be too late.  Settle it today.  

No, settle it now.  

Jesus, we are all in need of a little introspection on occasion.  I pray for those who are seeking out their relationship with You, right now.  I pray that You will indeed acknowledge Your presence or Your absence in their lives, so that they can make any decision necessary to change.  I pray for the ones who will be with You on that day - that they would encourage those around them to join You in life everlasting.  Open our eyes, today, Lord, so that we can know the Truth and so that You can set us free.