The past few days Shana has been asking me to add a security door to our house. Being a
curious 2 year old, Charlie asks why we need another door. I tell her, “so we can let the cool air
in and keep the bad stuff out.” That got me thinking of a joke I heard a long time ago.

A new preacher was visiting homes of the congregation. At one home, it seemed fairly obvious
that someone was home, but no one came to the repeated knocks at the door. So the pastor
took out one of his cards and wrote, “Revelation 3:20” and stuck it in the door jam. The following
Sunday after the morning service the pastor was going over the offerings. He noticed his card in
there. When he looked at the back, he saw written, “Genesis 3:10.” Not sure exactly what that
verse was, he pulled out his bible and read it. He laughed so loud, his secretary came to make
sure he was okay. Revelation 3:20 says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.” However,
Genesis 3:10 says, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

In the movie Mary Poppins, a joke is told and the one who told the joke says with satisfaction,
“there's nothing like a good joke.” The listener responds dryly, “And that was nothing like a good
joke.” Maybe my joke was nothing like a good joke, but rather just a joke about a door, and that
is where my thoughts will take you now….about a door.

Several years ago, I was driving around town looking at old doors with my Father in Law. He
was building a house and needed just the right look for the front of the house. As I think back to
the hours looking at doors, I get reminded of John 20:19-31. The disciples were gathered
behind a locked door. They are afraid. Jesus has risen from the dead, but nonetheless, the
disciples are afraid. The tension of a resurrected Lord and fearful disciples speaks right to the
heart of our faith. Has the resurrection met our deepest fears and transformed us into people
who live boldly in our world, or do we hide behind locked doors? Twice, the risen Jesus
appeared to the disciple who had gathered behind locked doors and each time when Jesus
appeared, he said, "Peace be with you!" Let us not be afraid. Let us not keep the door locked.
Let us fling wide that door and welcome in the risen Christ.

Thinking of doors, let's think back to a time not so long ago. We used to be able to visit one
another. We used to be able to walk up to a door and knock or ring the doorbell. Sometimes,
knowing who was coming we'd open the door expecting a familiar face. Other times we had no
warning and so we opened the door with curiosity, ready to be surprised. Do you remember
what it was like, in that distant time when doors were knocked on and opened? Do you
remember how wonderful it was to open the door and see someone you were not expecting,
and found some dearly-loved friend or family member had surprised you and arrived
unannounced? Sometimes opening the door can be such a beautiful blessing.

Now imagine the one knocking is Jesus. Not the Jesus of my bad joke at the top of this devo.
The Jesus knocking today is the one who knows you and loves you and cares for you. The one
who longs to be with you in all you do, in every breath you take and every move you make
(sorry song reference by the Police). That Jesus is knocking. That is the true meaning of
Revelation 3:20. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” Why did I remember that joke and
the time spent with my Father in Law by the simple mention of a door? Because there is nothing
better than opening the door of your heart and saying to the one who loves you with an
everlasting love, “Come in. Come in, Lord Jesus. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room
in my heart for thee.”

With the love of Christ
~Alex Hartsell