So I was headed down the stairs this morning at 5am, and just as my foot hit that first step, I saw Catie’s crutches laying on the ground and the front door wide-open and flapping in the wind. Stop, drop and roll came to mind, but there was no fire. It was a little early, so I stopped, as my brain tried to process through what I’m seeing.
Now, I know none of the girls got up that early to check the mail. The door was closed when I went to bed, so I’m thinking, who came in and left the door open? It wasn’t me. Was there some unwelcome visitor in the house – I don’t know. I go back and tell Carolyn the front door is open, and she says, “Well, go down and check it out!” Okay, just letting you know in case you hear me scream or hear a gunshot or something.
I let the dogs out, not they are good defenders or anything, but I figured maybe they would bark if they ran into an intruder or something. The good news was that everything was quiet, and the house all checked out. Whew, no one was in the house so I was feeling better… temporarily.
As I processed through the events of the morning, it occurred to me, that we have nothing to fear from anyone in this world. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but rather against the rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world (Ephesians 6:12). Even though no one had broken into my house physically, the real threat we face is the evil one who roams around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), who comes only to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).
In the end, I really didn’t care if anyone had taken my stuff; it’s not mine and is temporary anyway. And I’m glad I did not have any “altercations” with unwanted visitors! But I can’t help but wonder how many homes are broken into unknowingly every minute of every day, where people are robbed of full life, the eternal life, that only comes through a life transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9 says that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Are you saved? Is everyone in your house saved or are you being robbed? What about your neighbor, your friends, or your co-workers? The thought being robbed, or knowing someone that is being robbed is troublesome, and should be a motivation to make the homes around us a safer place.
Have questions about have a relationship with Jesus Christ and how to be saved? Let me know. If you are saved, do you have your neighbors back?
richardwollard 