If you didn’t think that your kitchen appliances had enough gadgets and features yet, I saw a new option on a TV commercial the other day: Apparently, LG offers refrigerators with a feature called the InstaView Door-in-Door1. If you knock on the door twice, the darkened window becomes transparent, and you can check out the contents of your fridge. From the web site, it seems that the entire fridge isn’t visible, mind you. Instead, it seems that there’s a little mini-compartment that is visible through this window. Maybe I’d store lots of healthy food there in front, and hide my good snacks behind them…
In the book of Revelation, Jesus describes Himself as knocking at our door, seeking to be invited in:
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 NIV
However, when Jesus asks to join us in our lives, He doesn’t just see the façade that we show off, or the little shelf of piousness that we make visible to others. He created us, knows us personally, understands our thoughts (good and bad), and still loves us without reservation…because that’s who He is.
When we invite Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, we’re not signing up for sharing a bottle of water and some chips. He will expect us to clean out the refrigerator of our heart. We’ll need to pitch some rancid leftovers, and probably get rid of those snack cakes we’ve been saving. (Following Jesus is rich and rewarding, but it’s more like sitting down to a carefully-prepared meal, and less like just snacking our way through the day with junk food.)
Said another way, Jesus expects all of us:
The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Luke 10:27 NLT
And, He doesn’t expect us to keep an empty refrigerator. He expects us to fill up on good things, instead. In fact, as I have understood passages like Luke 11:24-26, I think that Jesus warned His disciples about the risks of just trying to empty out bad things in our lives, without filling up on something better.
Specifically, Christians are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit, letting Him take up residence in our hearts. He – not the vain pressures of the world around us – is the source of what is best for us.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Ephesians 5:18-19 NASB
The good news, though, is that once we have replaced our bad habits with the purpose that Jesus has for us, we no longer have to worry that someone will stop by and peek into our lives. Even if they stop by and need something – maybe a word of encouragement, a listening ear, or a helping hand – we will be able to feed them from the good things that we have accumulated.
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Luke 6:45 NLT
So, fill up on the blessings that Jesus offers, and be healthy in your soul. Then, if you see someone walking by, and it looks like they might need something, don’t be afraid to let them see inside you. Let the good of Jesus out – there’s enough to share.
And, if you will allow me one more refrigerator reference: perhaps what will come out of our hearts when we yield to the expert guidance of the Holy Spirit will be the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- No, this is neither an endorsement, nor a sponsored pitch. If I want to see what’s in my fridge, I’ll probably just open the door and let the cold out…much to the chagrin of my wife! ↩
Those Who Sin Differently 
“[I]f you see someone walking by, and it looks like they might need something, don’t be afraid to let them see inside you. Let the good of Jesus out – there’s enough to share.” Reading this brings to mind what the guest preacher said this morning, something like: Wouldn’t it be great if someone walking toward you on the street, and looking at you, recognized Jesus first before realizing it was you.
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God’s timing is always impressive! May we always seek more of Him and less of us.
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