The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his091/fruit.lzh/FRUIT.TXT

Text File | 1991-06-30 | 18KB | 349 lines

INS:The day Jesus came to live in my house

   In Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, we find these words: "That [God]
would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may
dwell in your hearts by faith" (Eph 3:16). Or, as another has
translated, "that Christ may settle down and be at home in your hearts
by faith."

   Without question, one of the most remarkable Christian doctrines is
that Jesus Christ himself through the presence of the Holy Spirit will
actually enter a heart, settle down and be at home there. Christ will
make the human heart his abode.

   Our Lord said to his disciples, "If a man love me, he will keep my
words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make
our abode with him" (John 14:23). It was difficult for them to
understand what he was saying. How was it possible for him to make his
abode with them in this sense?

   It is interesting that our Lord used the same word here that he gave
them in the first of the 14th chapter of John: "I go to prepare a place
for you...that where I am, you may be also." Our Lord was promising his
disciples that, just as he was going to heaven to prepare a place for
them and would welcome them one day, now it would be possible for them
to prepare a place for him in their hearts and he would come and make
his abode with them.

   They could not understand this. How could it be? Then came
Pentecost. The Spirit of the living Christ was given to the church and
they understood. God did not dwell in Herod's temple in Jerusalem! God
did not dwell in a temple made with hands; but now, through the miracle
of the outpoured Spirit, God would dwell in human hearts. The body of
the believer would be the temple of the living God and the human heart
would be the home of Jesus Christ. It is difficult for me to think of a
higher privilege than to make for Christ a home in my heart, to
welcome, to serve. to please, to fellowship with him there. One evening
that I shall never forget, I invited him into my heart. What an
entrance he made! It was not a spectacular emotional thing, but very
real. It was at the very center of my life. He came into the darkness
of my heart and turned on the light. He built a fire in the cold hearth
and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness
and he filled the emptiness with his own wonderful loving fellowship. I
have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will-- not
into eternity!

   This, of course, is the first step in making the heart Christ's
home. He has said, "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" (Rev. 3:20). If you are interested in making
your life an abode of the living God, let me encourage you to invite
Christ into your heart and he will surely come.

   After Christ entered my heart and in the joy of that new-found
relationship, I said to him, "Lord, I want this heart of mine to be
yours. I want to have you settle down here and be perfectly at home.
Everything I have belongs to you. Let me show you around and introduce
you to the various features of the home that you may be more
comfortable and that we may have fuller fellowship together." He was
very glad to come, of course, and happier still to be given a place in
the heart.

   THE LIBRARY

   The first room was the study -- the library. Let us call it the
study of the mind. Now in my home this room of the mind is a very small
room with very thick walls. But it is an important room. In a sense, it
is the control room of the house. He entered with me and looked around
at the books in the bookcase, the magazines upon the table, the
pictures on the wall. As I followed his gaze I became uncomfortable.
Strangely enough, I had not felt badly about this before, but now that
he was there looking at these things I was embarrassed. There were some
books there that his eyes were too pure to behold. There was a lot of
trash and literature on the table that a Christian had no business
reading and as for the pictures on the wall -- the imaginations and
thoughts of the mind-- these were shameful.

   I turned to him and said, "Master, I know that this room needs a
radical alteration. Will you help me make it what it ought to be-- to
bring every thought into captivity to you?"

   "Surely!" he said. "Gladly will I help you. That is one reason I am
here. First of all, take all the things that you are reading and seeing
which are not helpful, pure, good and true, and throw them out! Now put
on the empty shelves the books of the Bible. Fill the library with
scriptures and meditate on them day and night. As for the pictures on
the wall, you will have difficulty controlling these images, but here
is an aid." He gave me a full sized picture of himself. "Hang this
centrally, " he said, "on the wall of the mind." I did and I have
discovered through the years that when my thoughts are centered upon
Christ himself, his purity and power cause impure imaginations to
retreat. So he has helped me to bring my thoughts into captivity.

   May I suggest to you if you have difficulty in this little room of
the mind, that you bring Christ in there. Pack it full with the Word of
God, meditate upon it and keep before it ever the immediate presence of
the Lord Jesus.

   THE DINING ROOM

   From the study we went to the dining room, the room of appetites and
desires. Now this was a very large room. I spent a good deal of time in
the dining room and much effort in satisfying my wants.

   I said to him, "This is a very commodious room and I am quite sure
you will be pleased with what we serve here."

   He seated himself at the table with me and asked, "What is on the
menu for dinner?"

   "Well, " I said, "my favorite dishes: old bones, corn husks, sour
cabbage, leeks, onions and garlic right out of Egypt." There were the
things I liked -- worldly fare. I suppose there was nothing radically
wrong in any particular item, but it was not the food that should
satisfy the life of a real Christian. When the food was placed before
him, he said nothing about it. However, I observed that he did not eat
it, and I said to him, somewhat disturbed, "Savior, you don't care for
the food that is placed before you? What is the trouble?"

   He answered, "I have meat to eat that you know not of. My meat is to
do the will of him that sent me." He looked at me again and said, "if
you want food that really satisfies you, seek the will of the Father,
not your own pleasures, not your own desires, not your own
satisfaction. Seek to please me, and that food will satisfy you." And
there about the table he gave me a taste of doing God's will. What a
flavor! There is no food like it in all the world. It alone satisfies.
Everything else is dissatisfying in the end.

   Now if Christ is in your heart, and I trust he is, what kind of food
are you serving him and what kind of food are you eating yourself? Are
you living for the lust of the flesh and the pride of life-- selfishly?
Or are you choosing God's will for your meat and drink?

   THE DRAWING ROOM

   We walked next into the drawing room. This room was rather intimate
and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a
bookcase, sofa and a quiet atmosphere.

   He also seemed pleased with it. He said, "This is indeed a
delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet and
we can have fellowship together."

   Well, naturally, as a young Christian I was thrilled. I could not
think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes apart with
Christ in intimate comradeship.

   He promised, "I will be here every morning early. Meet with me here
and we will start the day together." So, morning after morning, I would
come downstairs to the drawing room and he would take a book of the
Bible from the bookcase. He would open it and then we would read
together. He would tell me of its riches and unfold to me its truth. He
would make my heart warm as he revealed his love and grace towards me.
They were wonderful hours together. In fact, we called the dining room
the "withdrawing room." It was a period when we had our quiet time
together.

   But little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities,
this time began to be shortened. Why, I don't know, but I thought I was
just too busy to spend time with Christ. This was not intentional, you
understand; it just happened that way. Finally, not only was the time
shortened, but I began to miss a day now and then. It was examination
time at the university. Then it was some other urgent emergency. I
would miss it two days in a row and often more.

   I remember one morning when I was in a hurry, rushing down the
steps, eager to be on my way.

   As I passed the drawing room, the door was ajar. Looking in I saw a
fire in the fireplace and the Lord sitting there. Suddenly in dismay, I
thought to myself, "He was my guest. I had invited him into my heart!
He had come as Lord of my home. And yet here I am neglecting him." I
turned and went in. With downcast glance I said, "Blessed Master,
forgive me. Have you been here all these mornings?"

   "Yes, " he said, "I told you I would be here every morning to meet
with you." Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite
of my faithlessness. I asked his forgiveness and he readily forgave me
as he does when we are truly penitent.

   He said, "The trouble with you is this: You have been thinking of
the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your
own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means
something to me also. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at a
great cost. I desire your fellowship. Now, " he said, "do not neglect
this hour if only for my sake. Whatever else may be your desire,
remember I want your fellowship!"

   You know, the truth that Christ wants my fellowship, that he loves
me, wants me to be with him, wants to be with me and waits for me, has
done more to transform my quiet time with God than any other single
fact. Don't let Christ wait alone in the drawing room of your heart,
but every day find some time when, with the Word of God and in prayer,
you may fellowship with him.

   THE WORKSHOP

   Before long he asked, "Do you have a workshop in your home?" Down in
the basement of the home of my heart I had a workbench and some
equipment, but I was not doing much with it. Once in a while I would go
down and fuss around with a few little gadgets, but I wasn't producing
anything worthwhile.

   I led him down there. He looked over the workbench and what little
talents and skills I had. He said, "This is quite well furnished. What
are you producing with your life for the Kingdom of God?" He looked at
one or two of the little toys that I had thrown together on the bench
and he held one up to me. "Are these little toys all that you are
producing in your Christian life?"

   "Well, " I said, "Lord, that is the best I can do. I know it isn't
much and I really want to do more, but after all, I have no skill or
strength."

   "Would you like to do better?" he asked. "Certainly, " I replied.
"All right. Let me have your hands. Now relax in me and let my Spirit
work through you. I know you are unskilled and clumsy and awkward, but
the Spirit is the Master-worker and if he controls your hands and your
heart he will work through you." And so, stepping around behind me and
putting his great, strong hands over mine, controlling the tools with
his skillful fingers, he began to work through me.

   There's much more that I must still learn and I am very far from
satisfied with the product that is being turned out, but I do know that
whatever has been produced for God has been through his strong hand and
through the power of his Spirit in me.

   Do not become discouraged because you cannot do much for God. Your
ability is not the fundamental condition. It is he who is controlling
your fingers and upon whom you are relying. Give your talents and gifts
to God and he will do things with them that will surprise you.

   THE RUMPUS

   I remember the time he inquired about the playroom. I was hoping he
would not ask me about that. There were certain associations and
friendships, activities and amusements that I wanted to keep for
myself. I did not think Christ would enjoy them or approve of them so I
evaded the question.

   But there came an evening when I was leaving to join some companions
-- I was in college at the time -- and as I was about to cross the
threshold, he stopped me with a glance. "Are you going out?"

   I answered, "Yes." "Good, " he said, "I would like to go with you."

   "Oh, " I replied rather awkwardly. "I don't think, Lord, that you
would really want to go with us. Let's go out tomorrow night. Tomorrow
night we will go to prayer meeting, but tonight I have another
appointment."

   He said, "that's all right. Only I thought when I came into your
home we were going to do everything together. We were going to be
partners. I want you to know that I am willing to go with you."

   "Well, " I said, "we will go some place together tomorrow night."
But that evening I spent some miserable hours. I felt wretched. What
kind of friend was I to Christ, When I was deliberately leaving him out
of my associations, doing things and going places that I knew very well
he would not enjoy? When I returned that evening, there was a light in
his room and I went up to talk it over with him. I said, "Lord, I have
learned my lesson. I cannot have a good time without you. We will do
everything together from now on."

   Then we went down into the rumpus room of the house and he
transformed it. He brought into life real joy, real happiness, real
satisfaction, real friendship. Laughter and music have been ringing in
the house ever since.

   THE HALL CLOSET

   There is just one more matter that I might share with you. One day I
found him waiting for me at the door. There was an arresting look in
his eye. He said to me as I entered, "There is a peculiar odor in the
house. There is something dead around here. It's upstairs. I think it
is in the hall closet." As soon as he said the words, I knew what he
was talking about. Yes, there was a small hall closet behind lock and
key I had one or two little personal things that I did not want anybody
to know about and certainly I did not want Christ to see. I knew they
were dead and rotting things. And yet I loved them, and I wanted them
so for myself that I was afraid to admit they were there. I went up the
stairs with him and as we mounted, the odor became stronger and
stronger. He pointed at the door and said, "It's in there! Some dead
thing!"

   I was angry. That's the only way I can put it. I had given him
access to the library, the dining room, the drawing room, the workshop,
the rumpus room, and now he was asking me about a little two-by-four
closet. I said inwardly, "This is too much. I am not going to give him
the key."

   "Well, " he said, reading my thoughts, "if you think I am going to
stay up here on the second floor with this odor, you are mistaken. I
will take my bed out on the back porch. I'm certainly not going to put
up with that." And I saw him start down the stairs.

   When you have come to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can
happen to you is to sense his fellowship retreating from you. I had to
surrender. "I'll give you the key, " I said sadly, "but you'll have to
open the closet. You'll have to clean it out. I haven't the strength to
do it."

   "I know, " he said. "I know you haven't. Just give me the key. Just
authorize me to take care of that closet and I will." So, with
trembling fingers I passed the key over to him. He took it from my
hand, walked over to the door, opened it, entered it, took out all the
putrefying stuff that was rotting there and threw it away. Then he
cleansed the closet, painted it, fixed it up, doing it all in a
moment's time. Oh, what victory and release to have that dead thing out
of my life!

   TRANSFERRING THE TITLE

   Then a thought came to me. I said to myself, "I have been trying to
keep this heart of mine clear for Christ. I start on one room and no
sooner have I cleaned that then another room is dirty. I begin on the
second room and the first room becomes dusty again. I am so tired and
weary trying to maintain a clean heart and an obedient life. I just am
not up to it!" So I ventured a question: "Lord, is there any chance
that you would take over the responsibility of the whole house and
operate it for me and with me just as you did that closet? Would you
take the responsibility to keep my heart what it ought to be and my
life where it ought to be?"

   I could see his face lighten up as he replied, "Certainly, that is
what I came to do. You can not be a victorious Christian in your own
strength. That is impossible. Let me do it through you and for you.
That is the way. But, " he added slowly, "I am not owner of this house.
I am just a guest. I have no authority to proceed since the property is
not mine."

   I saw it in a minute and dropping to my knees, I said, "Lord, you
have been a guest, and I have been the host. From now on I am going to
be the servant. You are going to be the Lord." Running as fast as I
could to the strong box, I took out the title deed to the house
describing its assets and liabilities, its situation and condition.
Then returning to him, I eagerly signed it over to belong to him alone
for time and eternity. "Here, " I said, "here it is, all that I am and
have forever. Now you run the house. I'll just remain with you as
houseboy and friend."

   He took my life that day and I can give you my word, there is no
better way to live the Christian life. He knows how to keep it in shape
and deep peace settles down on the soul. May Christ settle down and be
at home in your heart as Lord of all.

   [This file was both blessing and challenge for me as a new
Christian. I hope it is for you, too. -Servant-]