Behold, I Stand at the Door

Dear Readers around the world! Today our article is written by an elder pastor from our church here in the USA. He
is no longer able to preach due to his health. Some of my most special early childhood memories include listening to this Pastor preach God's word
when he visited our area. May God Bless each of you through the coming week! John
Now, Pastor Holmgren

These words of Jesus are often applied to the
unchurched—specifically, those living outwardly in sin and
in defiance of the will of God as it is revealed in the Word of
God. Taken in context, they present a startling revelation! Jesus
was speaking to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. He
was the minister (messenger) of that church and was held as a
star in the right hand of Jesus (Revelation 1:20).

It is apparent he was not in fellowship with the Lord. The
words paint a graphic picture of the Savior standing at the door
seeking entrance. It’s alarming to think that this angel’s spiritual
life had deteriorated to the extent that he was no longer in
communion with his Lord and Savior. The Master, in whose
ministry he served, appeared outside of the door of his heart.
He was in a lukewarm condition, in a state of spiritual
indifference. He had lost consciousness of his sinfulness and
his need of grace and developed such spiritual independence
that he felt rich and increased with goods and in need of
nothing. This self-sufficient, lukewarm condition resulted not
only in complacency, but also in spiritual blindness of the
magnitude that Jesus said that he did not know that he was
wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.

The better way was found by the Lord in the hearts and
spiritual lives of two angels of the other churches addressed in
these divinely inspired letters. The Lord knew the works,
tribulations and poverty of the angel at Smyrna but comforted
him with the statement that he was rich nevertheless
(Revelation 2:9).

The Lord also approved the condition of the
angel at Philadelphia, whom, He said, had a little strength, had
kept His Word and had not denied His name (Revelation 3:8).
It is evident that the condition of the angel at Laodicea was
deplorable in the Lord’s sight because He said …I will spue thee
out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16) Yet Jesus showed him the
way back to spiritual health by counseling him to buy of Him
gold tried in the fire so that he might be rich, white raiment so
that he would be clothed and his nakedness would not show,
and eye salve so that he would be able to see (verse 18).

What prompted this straightforward message to this angel?
The love of the Lord shines in every word He spoke, even in this
seemingly stern admonition. As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:19-20) Jesus’
words teach us the essence of Christianity is communion with
Him. There is no substitute for this relationship. Communion
with Jesus is the only means for restoring and preserving a
living relationship with God. Through His Spirit, He imparts to
us the gifts of grace which enable us to feast upon His truth.

Then we can say with the Psalmist, My heart is inditing a good
matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the
king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer
than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore
God hath blessed thee for ever. (Psalm 45:1-2)
Pastor Alvin Holmgren
July 1988 CM