Behold I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to them and eat with them, and they we me.
Revelation 3:20
When early Christianity spoke of the return of the Lord Jesus, they thought of the great day of judgement – not a very Christmasy thought. But they were on point. When you hear Jesus knocking our conscience ought to be asking the question – Are you prepared? Is our heart capable of becoming God’s dwelling place?
This Advent season is a time of self-examination – it reminds of the first coming of Christ but also the second and final coming, and that ought to make us tremble.
We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and God’s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming should arouse in us. The God of the world who lays claim to us is coming – that is serious business!
Only when we have felt the and encountered the seriousness of the matter can we recognise the incomparable kindness. God comes into the very midst of evil and death in us and in world and judges it, cleanses and sanctifies it, coming to us with grace and love. The coming of Christ reminds us we are never alone – God is with us and for us. We are no longer homeless as a bit of God eternal home has moved in with us.
Now Christ walks among us – stands at the door and knocks – confronting you in every person you meet and situation you face. Will you keep the door open him?
The final advent has not yet come when he will make all things new. Christ is still knocking today! adapted from Deitrich Bonhoeffer