We have a fire door at the church that is very draughty and so we asked someone to quote for a new door. (Okay, this isn’t the best opening line you have ever read but stick with it. Fairly soon you get to the bit where I look like an idiot).
The door is a main entrance from one of our car parks so we need to leave it open when people are in and our of the building during the week at one of our groups or activities. With this in mind, we asked the tradesman to quote to fit a door that could also be opened from the outside. After all it doesn’t matter how draught proof your door is if you have to leave it open! As he measured the door frame he said to me, ‘you’ve got one of those doors already’.
It was strange to be looking for a new door that worked in a certain way and then realize that we already had that facility but we didn’t realize it.
It’s a bit like when Christians say ‘I don’t think God loves me’ when the truth is that he does. God loves us with an everlasting love, we have God’s love already and we don’t have to earn or upgrade our faith to receive it.
It’s a bit like when Christians say ‘I wish God was with me’ or ‘It’s great to be at church so we can come into God’s presence’. Jesus said I am with you always and he meant it, God is present and we don’t need to do anything special or go to any buildings that happen to have draughty doors in order to meet with him. God is already with us, we already have that in life.
It’s a bit like when Christians say ‘I wonder if God has forgiven me’ when the Bible says that ‘if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1.9). We don’t need to upgrade our faith to receive forgiveness, if we have asked for God’s forgiveness, then we are forgiven. To suggest that we aren’t forgiven is to call God a liar.
It’s a bit like when Christians say ‘I hope I can be with God when I die’ when Jesus said to his disciples that he was going back to his father to prepare a place for them (John 14.3). Jesus wants us to be assured of our salvation which he offers to us as a free gift. You don’t need to upgrade to a special faith or to be good enough to receive it, you just need to trust in Jesus as your Lord and saviour.
It’s a bit like when Christians say … Comment below and let me know what else it’s like.
So we have a door that does actually do what we would like it to, but there is just one problem. Can you guess? Yes, there is no key and I should know because I spent quite a while looking for it yesterday.
Jesus is the key to life. May we allow him to open up our lives and to show us what following him means.
Honest about my faith 