“A male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind them.” (Genesis 7:16 NLT)
In one of the biggest cities in the world, a family of seven lived in a two-bedroom apartment in an area where, let’s just say, an area where you would not want to be out by yourself at night. The father of the house had strict rules for his teenage children, concerned about their well-being. One of the standing rules was to be home before dark. He instructed his children about the need for them to be in a safe place in their surrounding neighborhood, an area where many people must have slept during the day. For the streets were always filled with people of questionable character. To describe it in a few words, let’s just say that there was danger on the streets, and you could see in the darkness of night that the devil was still busy. At night, you could be hustled, harmed, harassed or hurt.
The father told his children, being very clear with his words, indicated that when darkness came, the door would be locked. Now not one of the children was given a key. He told them that the front door of the house would be secured, locked once darkness took over after daylight had ended its shift. The father reminded the children, his offspring that he truly loved, that there was no back door entry and all windows would be locked shut. There was only one way to enter the apartment. After setting the rule, the father checked for understanding. The children shook their heads when informed about the “be home before dark” rule, indicating that they clearly understood the rule.
All of the children except one adhered to the father’s instructions perfectly, every night. However, the oldest child did not follow the rule and ended up spending some nights sitting on the steps outside the entry way into the apartment. As you can tell by the aforementioned description, outside was not a safe place to be at night. You could hear gunshots from nearby places, popping like someone beating a snare drum. You could see gangs of juveniles running the streets, and as the child sat, he could not doze off for a minute. Proximity wise, sitting on that step in the dark was near where all hell seemed like it was breaking loose. Freezing during the winter months, filled with fear during the blazing summers, and regardless of the season, it just seemed like hell on earth. More than the freaks came out at night. Listen! All of this could have been avoided if only the child had followed the father’s guidelines, the home before dark rule.
Doesn’t this remind you of people who have not adhered to heavenly Father’s invitation to come out of darkness and into the place where there is marvelous light? Doesn’t this remind you of the fact that all of the children that should be subjected to the authority of the Father in Heaven, children young or old, of all ages but have not come to the place of safety yet? Perhaps, in the story above, the other rule-abiding children could have been a positive influence on the child who heard but did not heed the father’s words. Let’s take those words a little bit further. Let’s make it personal. There is somebody you know who is still living in darkness, still choosing to stay out in a dangerous place, as opposed to coming to a place of safety, still sitting on the figurative steps were their safety is in jeopardy. They are thinking that the Heavenly Father will not leave them there. The Father has made it clear. It is not on the Father. It is on their own volition not to come in to the safe place, a place where there is a refuge, strength, and help. You know! God is a very present help in times of trouble!
The good news for those still outside of “the house,” is that there is still time to come in out of darkness, but we don’t know how long remains before that time will be no more. Therefore, be a child of the Father who influences the stubborn to come on in the door, to come on in “the house.”. Somebody needs to know that Jesus says, “I am the door.” There is no other way in! Let’s be evangelists my friend! A nighttime like no other is approaching, So, obediently go ye therefor and bring people into the place of safety. Be really moved! React! Recruit! Retain! Rejoice! Those who do not come in through the door, through Jesus, well, it will not just seem like an eternity on the figurative steps. It will be an eternity! Have a terrific, testifying, turning someone’s life around Tuesday! Be blessed!
“Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.” (John 9:4-5 The Message Bible)
Mark L. King