Jump Start # 587

Revelation 3:20-21 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

This week our Jump Starts have taken a look at what Jesus said to the seven churches of Revelation to get them back on track. It is a profitable study and reminds us that Jesus doesn’t give up on us. He wants us to do well, as individuals and within the church. Success in these terms means walking with the Lord.

Before we leave Revelation, there is another interesting way to look at these seven churches. At the end of each specific message to these churches, Jesus gives a promise and a blessing for those who continue to walk with Him. These blessings are a glimpse of Heaven. There are seven of them—one to each of these seven churches. Look at all seven of these. Write them on a piece of paper and give them some thought. Bible study is like looking for hidden treasures, it takes a little looking and digging, but what wonderful finds you will discover!

Our verse today is what was promised to the lukewarm Laodiceans. If they repented, and Jesus believed that they could, awaiting them in the future was a warm and wonderful relationship with the Lord. Jesus reveals two concepts in these verses. These are concepts of Heaven.

• I will dine with Him. Now understand these words and especially this book, Revelation, is stuffed full of symbolism. Heaven is a spiritual realm. The gold street is not real gold, nor is the pearl gate an actual pearl. Those physical items will not exist. Jesus is giving us word pictures. The book of Revelation is like a picture book. We see and we understand. There will be no eating in Heaven as we think about here on earth. No food. No getting hungry. The image of dining, brings the picture of closeness and intimacy. For our society, eating is a necessity. We do that to be able to do other things. We eat in a hurry. We eat on the run and in our cars and at our desk. We stuff food in our purses, gym bags, golf bags, glove boxes, and in desk drawers. We eat so we can play. We eat so we can keep working. Fast food is fast eating for many of us. It isn’t that way in Europe and certainly not that way in Biblical times. Dining was more than putting food in your mouth, it was sharing, talking, discussing and connecting with one another. Meals took hours. Dining was a major social event. Have you noticed how many times Jesus used this concept in His teachings? What did the father and the prodigal do when he returned? They celebrated by feasting on the fatted calf. In Matthew 22, a king gave a wedding feast for his son. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins ends with the door being shut and a wedding feast taking place. Not only did Jesus talk about dining in His teaching, we find Him in homes actually dining. He went to Matthew’s home, Simon’s home, Zaccheus’s home, Mary and Martha’s home. Then there was the last supper. Dining was an important part of life and relationships.

Our passage touches on that. The blessings awaiting the Laodiceans was dining with Jesus. Imagine that for a moment, just you and Jesus sitting across each other at a table. Not being in a hurry to go somewhere as we usually are, but talking, sharing, learning. Jesus wanting you to be there, not to lecture you, not to condemn you, but because He likes you. He is interested in you. He wants you to talk to Him. I think some would feel very uncomfortable with that idea because they are uncomfortable with Jesus. They don’t have a relationship as they ought to. For others, what a wonderful and rich and rewarding experience that would be. Just me and Jesus. Together with Jesus—that’s what Heaven is. That’s fellowship. That’s forgiveness.

Do you think you’d run out of things to talk about if you dined with Jesus? Do you think it would be a great experience? The thought Jesus is putting before us is something to look forward to, something that is good, something that ought to draw our hearts to Him. Multitudes begged for time with Jesus. They shouted at Him as He passed by. They touched Him when He passed. Always a crowd. Always interruptions. Always bits and pieces. That is not the image of dining with Him. Closeness. Openness. Time. Smiles. Reflection. Reminders. Thank yous. Joy. Appreciation. Questions. Answers. Depth. Insights. Hope. Trust. Faith. Peace. Calm. Just you and Jesus together. You could ask what word He wrote in the dirt when the adulterous woman was brought to Him. But you might think, it doesn’t matter. You might ask why Peter was the only one to walk on water. But, it doesn’t matter. You might ask about the cross. You might ask about Saturday in the grave. You might ask why He never gave up on you. You might look back and ask about something years ago. You and Jesus. Talk would turn to your family members. Before long, you’d see just how much He wants everyone to be saved. You’d see just how much He loves the entire world. Your thoughts, your questions would grow. They would start including the world picture. You would start to see what Jesus was doing and why He did what was done.

Dining with Jesus. The thought isn’t about food, it’s about relationship. It’s about closeness. This blessing wasn’t just for the Laodiceans, it’s for you and me. We must overcome. Awaiting us is a table for two—you and Jesus!

That’s Heaven!

Roger