The above scenario is all too true with us, especially if it is not our habit to keep things put away into their proper places at all times. Which is easier, to return the things we have been using to their proper places at the moment we are finished with them, or to drop them wherever they may fall, thus creating an unsightly mess? All too often we answer, “I’ll just put them down and . . . sometime later I will pick them up.” If this is the decision made, then we will not be prepared to receive the visitor who is on the way. Then it happens that the rush is on to just put things “somewhere” quickly.

Whether we are ready or not, there is someone knocking at the door. The one for whom we have been looking has arrived, seeking to be admitted. Prior to opening the door to the expected visitor we must take a quick look around to be sure all things are in order, lest we be embarrassed; lest we fear that a critical eye fall upon something we would not want someone to see.

All too often we find our life in just such disarray, in a shambles much like our dwelling place becomes if we are careless and do not practice good housekeeping. As we travel along the way from birth to eternity, we collect many things which we at times wish we did not have, things which are burdensome to us as we arrive at the end of our journey. Many times these things become a stumbling block to us, especially if we find that we do not have space for them. Then it is that we must decide what to do with them. These things are the excess baggage we try to carry along life’s way and find that while carrying it we are unable to enter in at the strait gate of that City which we hope to enter.

There could be such burdensome things in our life, which become a part of our character, which we have either inherited from past family genes or which we have acquired along the way. Some of these possibilities are found in Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. . . .” The writer goes on to give the warning that they which continue to hold onto these things will not be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Hence, we will lose the eternal life which has been offered to us, if we do not “clean house.”

If we would analyze each of these things and determine all the so-called “hidden sins” found within each group listed, we could uncover the shortcomings of humanity. Under each heading lie several subheadings containing conditions which perhaps we have not thought of as stumbling-blocks to ourselves or to others whom our life touches. We can discover these problems if we will study the Guidebook which God has given to us to be “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

These are the things which we should consider as we endeavor to start our house-cleaning. And this undertaking does not need to be delayed for such a time as we think best; procrastination has no place when such important matters need to be attended to.

Just who is this “Visitor” who is just now knocking at our door, seeking entrance? It is the One who has called ahead to tell us that He is on His way to visit us in our home. It is One who enjoys being made welcome, One who enjoys spending time with us, when we will lay all other things aside and visit with Him. Unfortunately, all too often, He finds us in a turmoil with unnecessary cares and worries so that we cannot sit by His side and talk with Him.

Who is this special Friend who has sought entry into our home? Yes, this “Visitor” is none other than Jesus, our Saviour. He is the One who gave up all the glories of heaven so that His children on earth could learn what it means to have a close relationship with Him; they could learn lessons from Him which would help them have their “houses” in order. He it is who came to give us that example of love for others even as they seek to revile and, in many ways, to persecute us.

This special one who has sought entrance desires to be more than just a Visitor; He wants to dwell with us constantly, to be our Companion at all times and in all circumstances. He will never force entry into our dwelling place but will stand patiently at the door, knocking, and waiting for us to give an invitation for Him to come in. Are we so busy trying to get everything in order that we do not heed His gentle knock? Are we ashamed of all the things that are on our side of the door that we do not want to open it just yet? “Oh my,” we think, “I have waited too long to begin this clean-up process; now what shall I do! Will He who called and gave plenty of warning of His coming go away because I am not answering His gentle plea to enter?”

The Saviour is standing just now at the door of our heart, asking to come in. He knows what condition things are in on our side of the door and He yearns to be asked to come in and help us clean up. We can hear His gentle voice say, “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).

Yes, it is true! This One who has appeared at your door is not expecting you to get everything perfect before you open the way so that He might enter. All He is desiring at this time is that you be willing to believe in Him and believe that He has come to you for the purpose of helping you clean up the mess which you have so carelessly made.

These bad habits which we have accrued throughout the years we have lived may prove to be very difficult for us to get rid of. These works of the flesh which have plagued our life have a way of clinging within us and we find that we are powerless to cast them off. But, the One who is now standing at our door is able and willing to lift these burdens from us. The question which we asked, “What must I do?” is answered by the simple words, “Open the door.”

As we contemplate whether to throw open the door and invite Him who stands patiently there to enter, we need not hesitate too long, for we do not need to reject His gentle Spirit as He works to soften our heart. It is only through His grace and mercy that we may be saved; that we may be cleansed from all these problems which we find heaped up around and within us. This gentle One is so anxious to have us willingly open that door so that He may flood our very soul with the gift of salvation which can come only through Him. If we think for one moment that we can successfully clean up the debris which is scattered around us, if we think that by our works we can clean up our house, then we will find, when it is too late, that we have lost the battle. Now is the time that we would do well if we take the advice offered in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

As we begin to see the true condition of our life and how very far we have wandered from the pathway of safety, how far we have strayed from our Guide, we are able to see the exceeding sinfulness of the treasured objects with which we have filled our home. There are those hurtful words we have uttered to others, the unkind deeds we have done, those unpleasant thoughts which we have allowed to be retained in our mind. But, we wonder, “What can be the remedy for this situation, how can I be freed from these besetting sins?”

The answer comes, “The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether.”1 Now it is beginning to come into a clearer focus why that door must be opened, why the One who remains standing outside needs to be invited to come in. This new life which has to begin is not attainable through our own works but only through Him. These things which are cluttering our house are not removable through our own efforts; we must have His help!

There remains One so full of tender love and mercy who is still standing just outside our door. His plea is, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

He does not want us to think that we are outcasts just because we have many problems which have been brought on by our own course of action. He will not forsake us, but will extend His mercy to us as we truly feel our deep need of a Saviour. What a wonderful comfort it is for us when we look upon Him as our Source of infinite power. He takes us in our weakness and helplessness and guides us back into the sheepfold of His care. Why, then, should we hesitate to open the door and let Him come in?

Now that we see our need of help from someone stronger than ourselves, let us go back to that unopened door and hasten to open it and bid our Visitor to enter. It seems as though we have kept Him waiting too long, and we think, “Could He have turned away and left, or is He still there patiently waiting?”

We make our way back to the door, fling it open, and find that He indeed still awaits our invitation for Him to come in. Now we can pour out to Him all that is within our heart, all the fears and anxieties which we have carried around for so long. Now we can have the help which we have needed to clear away the debris around us which has come as a result of carelessness and wrongdoing.

What a wonderful blessing it is to finally find the answers to our questions; to find out what to do with doubt; to find out how we can be saved from our sins which have cluttered our life for so long. We find in this Friend, who is now listening to us, one who is desiring that we tell Him all our cares so that He can help us to overcome and be free.

The result of our deciding to open the door of our heart to the Saviour is the blessing of peace, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). We will find in Him that link which connects us to heaven. It is when we respond to His love and to His invitation to come unto Him, and allow Him to come in and abide with us, that we become His elected children. It is when we make this decision to let Him enter and to bring the needed change to our heart that we can see His faithfulness and His great love which is everlasting.

We have found that we do have One who is longing to help us to “clean the house.” We are not able to do this type of cleaning on our own but we can cooperate with the One who can make all things new, the One who can change the desires of the heart.

This One who stands just now, knocking at your heart’s door, will not force His way in. He will await your invitation, while hoping that you will say, “Yes.” Will you at this time bow humbly before Him, accept His love and mercy, and allow Him to come in and make the changes necessary? Do not cause Him to wait any longer.