You’ve heard the story about the famous tightrope artist who claimed he could walk the tightrope across a raging river while pushing a wheelbarrow. Before attempting the feat, he asked the large crowd how many thought he would make it. Almost everyone raised a hand and voiced support of this daredevil. Then he asked, “Who will ride in the wheelbarrow while I push it?” No one volunteered.
What is the faith God is after? The type that says, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God” or the type that says, “I believe Jesus is God’s Son and I trust Him with my life”? When we put our faith in Him, Jesus comes to live in our hearts and our lives will not be the same. But why doesn’t everyone come?
A painting called “The Light of the World” shows Jesus knocking at a door. Holman Hunt, the artist, included an interesting detail. The feet of Jesus are pointed away from the door, insinuating that it is likely that He not receive an answer. We may resist getting “into Christ” for fear of the ride, or we may resist inviting Him “into us” because we don’t want to give up control. The truth is: there can be no relationship with the Father until such a union takes place… and this union only comes through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
We in Him and He in us. It was the same relationship Jesus had with His Father, though the disciples often failed to understand. When Phillip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us”, Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”
I built a fire this past weekend and left the iron poker in the flame. When I pulled the poker out of the fire and placed it on a piece of newspaper, the paper ignited. The iron was in the fire, but the fire was also in the iron. So it should be with those who follow Jesus.
“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 him and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 (Jesus speaking)
“… Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” II Corinthians 5:17
“Remain in me and I will remain in you.” John 15:4 (Jesus speaking)