Gift for life

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Revelation 3.20

At our Alpha Course this evening we shall be addressing the vital question: How can a person have faith? The bad news is that it is not up to us. Faith is a gift, which only God can bestow. The good news is that he is a willing giver. In the verse above from Revelation, Jesus likens God to one standing at the door knocking. The door signifies our hearts and, if we open that door, then he promises to come in and eat with us which, again, is a metaphor confirming his readiness to make his home with us by granting faith. And when he comes in to live with us, we get to share his life.

The famous painting by Holman Hunt depicts Jesus standing outside a door knocking. There is no handle visible on the door because the handle is inside. Although faith is God's gift, he leaves the choice to us of whether to accept it or not. I wonder how many people realise what awaits them and, indeed, what they stand to lose if they don't respond? All the more reason that those of us who appreciate the situation get on with the task of alerting everyone, so that they have the opportunity to avail themselves of God's gift - of life, for life...