“Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me.” 

Rev. 3:20 (Common English Bible) 

In our house, we have lots of pictures and paintings with doors. I have never really noticed this until today. There are photographs of doors in France, doors in England and doors in America. There’s a picture of our oldest son leaning against a door, and a painting that includes a door to a French café. 

I like doors. They present possibilities. If we wanted to, we could sit around and make up stories about each of the doors in a picture or painting, who we thought was on the other side of the door, and where the doors lead to. Our vivid imaginations could dream of the many possibilities, and we want to open the door to see what or who is on the other side. 

Doors are fascinating because they represent many options, from “Welcome” messages to mysterious gateways of the unknown. They present us with choices to consider and a decision to be made.  

Metaphorically, books are doors to unknown places and times. The Bible that sits on my table is a door — a door to times and places far removed from my own 21st century world of cell phones, television and other technological wonders. The Bible is a gateway to a world far, far away. It contains messages from God to humanity about how much we are loved, how we were created with great care to be God’s own people, and how much God wants to have a relationship with us.  

Our heart has a door, too. Not a physical door that can be opened, but a door that we can open in our own imagination. When we open the door of our heart, we decide to become open to new possibilities, new ideas, new ways of feeling and doing things. We decide to trust a power higher than ourselves. Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock,” meaning the door of our heart. When we open that door to Jesus, we open our heart to new possibilities, new ideas and becoming a new work of creation as God works inside of us to make all things new again in our hearts and lives. 

In your mind’s eye, picture Jesus standing at the door of your heart. He brings with him a feast of joy and hope for your life like you have never before known. 

Will you open your door to Jesus today?

Dear Jesus, We see you at the door of our heart today. Help us to open the door and invite you in today. Jesus, please come in and be our guest. Fill us with your joy and peace as only you can. Amen.

Jan McCoy is associate pastor of First United Methodist Church of Covington. She may be reached at jan.mccoy@ngumc.net.