The Ultimate Answer

Revelation chapter three contains a blunt assessment of the spiritual state of God’s people. The letter to the church of Laodicea is a message to the church in earth’s last days. In this brief communication, Jesus speaks to people who say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” They do not understand that, in actuality, they “are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). Mercifully, Jesus presents the solution for the spiritual inadequacy of His church. “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (verse 18).

So how might we receive the faith that works by love, the righteousness of Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit that are represented by the gold, white raiment, and eye salve? The answer is shockingly simple. Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock” (verse 20). Jesus doesn’t force His way into a human heart.

He knocks, making us aware of His desire to enter.

Jesus knocks in the hope that He will be permitted to come into the life of a sinner. Although Jesus is appealing to a self-deceived sinner, someone unaware of their tremendous spiritual need, He does not state that upon entering a needy human heart, He will lecture its possessor on how to be a true Christian.

Neither does He say that His first priority is to clean the mess He finds. Jesus says to sinners, “If you open your heart to Me, I will come inside, and we will dine together.” No judgment. No censure. To those who have not yet found their way to a truly genuine Christian experience, Jesus simply says, “If you let Me into your life, we will spend time together in fellowship.” The ultimate answer for the broken human heart is time spent with Jesus.