Lots of children are going to be knocking on doors today in the hope that they will be given treats.
I remember one parent telling me how he would only take his children trick or treating to houses that had some sort of Halloween decorations because they had such a bad experience the previous year. Lots of people had just not opened their doors which resulted in some very, very and I mean very disappointed children. I was remembering this conversation just now and thinking how disappointing it must have been for those children to expect something good as they knocked but then to get nothing as the door was unopened. Life in general can feel a lot like this as we long for fulfillment and happiness but sometimes we are left feeling like we are empty-handed.
Jesus says ‘I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends’ (Revelation 3.20).
Jesus knocks on the doors of our lives in expectation that we will welcome him in. Are we willing to open the door or will we just leave Jesus knocking?
This knocking isn’t just to people who don’t know Jesus yet, the words were actually directed to Christians? You see, we might follow Jesus and trust in him to save us but what he really wants is to play an active part in our lives where we can find the life and fulfillment that he promises.
I’m uneasy about Halloween and my main objection to it is to do with the demanding nature of trick or treat and the associated fear that it can cause to vulnerable people in their homes. My youngest daughter doesn’t cope well with scary things and many Halloween costumes and decorations are too much for her.
I can see potential for Halloween to be a gateway to the occult but I think that my friends who celebrate it are a long way from any spiritual danger. In fact, I think that worrying that people are going to get into witchcraft because of Halloween is a bit like atheists suggesting that we shouldn’t celebrate Christmas because everyone might start following Jesus. In reality, both festivals for many people in our culture are far removed from any spiritual significance. It can also be true though that both festivals can begin a journey and my prayer is that we would choose to journey towards the light rather than the darkness.
Jesus is knocking, but will we open up the door of our lives fully and allow him to come in. Jesus longs to lead us into the light but will we follow?
Honest about my faith 