The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Inner Kingdom

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 3:20)

This verse often is used by evangelists for bringing the unsaved to Christ, but it actually is directed toward Laodicean Christians. Self-centered Christians, such as the Laodiceans, conduct their church activities apart from the Presence of Christ. Christ is kept on the outside although the believers are not aware that such is the case.

Christ comes to a busy church member and knocks at the door of his personality. The knocking may come in the form of calamity. Jesus does what is necessary to gain the attention of the individual. Sometimes we must suffer a great deal before we become aware that God is speaking to us.

After the "earthquake and fire" comes the "still small voice" of the Lord Jesus (I Kings 19:12). It is the voice of God calling to Adam. "Where are you? What are you doing here? Why are you confused and upset?"

How wonderful it is when the Lord of the churches becomes known to us. We strive so hard to survive the problems of life and to do what we think God expects of us. Then the Lord Jesus comes to us walking on the stormy waters. He is a sanctuary, a place of refuge for us. We run into Him and are saved.

Christ desires to dine with us. He sets a table before us in the presence of our enemies. No matter what is taking place on the outside, the Lord and His saint are having fellowship within. The deepest, most enduring of all joys becomes ours. Sometimes the pressures of the world are so great that there is not much joy reflected in our outward appearance. But the eternal peace has been established in the core of our personality.

We dine with the Lord on His body and blood. It is by eating the Lamb that we are married to the Lamb. It is the "eagles" who live by the body and blood of the Lamb that will be caught up to the "Carcass" when He is revealed in the heaven above us.

God is calling us to total oneness with Himself through Christ. We can enter that oneness only by feeding upon and living by the body and blood of the Lord.

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (John 6:56, 57)

Revelation 3:20 is one of the greatest of all the promises of Scripture, and it is announced to the believers of Laodicea.

The Laodiceans are last in time but are given the opportunity to be first in the Kingdom of God, in the inner kingdom that is the dwelling of the Father and Christ in us.

To be continued.