This evening as I went to tuck my youngest child into bed, toys that she had forgotten to clean up obstructed the path to her bed. I said to her, “I’m sorry, I can’t tuck you in tonight because there are too many toys keeping me from getting to you. I can’t reach you!” Distraught at the idea that she would have to tuck herself in, she looked up at me with tears rolling down her cheeks and said, “I’ll clean it up right now!”

As I walked out of her bedroom, I was reminded of an anecdote I heard many years ago, about a man who invited Jesus into the home of his heart. As Jesus went in, the man welcomed him into every room of his heart, seating him at the head of his table and offering Jesus the most comfortable bed in the bedroom with the best view. The man invited Jesus to make himself at home in his heart. As Jesus walked through the rooms, he was pleased with what he saw. The heart home was fresh and cleaned of impurities. However, as Jesus approached the hallway closet, the man said quickly, “Oh! You don’t want to open that!”, as he stood between Jesus and the closet. Upon a closer inspection, Jesus noticed that cobwebs surrounded the door frame, and there was a heavy lock on the door. You see this is where the man had hidden away those things that he was ashamed of and didn’t want Jesus to see. He figured as long they were under lock and key then he wouldn’t have to get rid of them. But Jesus said, “I’d like to hang my coat there”; “you have told me to make myself at home here, yet I am not allowed in every room. How can I live freely in a home if I cannot have access to every part?”

Like the man, many of us want Jesus to live in our hearts but we won’t clean up the mess that is keeping Him from getting to us. Jesus doesn’t want to be invited into a part of our lives, he wants to be invited to be Lord of our lives, given the freedom to go through every room freely, without any obstacles.

Let us be as children who desire and long for the closeness of their parents. Let us clear the path for Jesus to reach us freely. He’s waiting to come into the home of your heart. Isn’t it time you said to Him, “I’ll clean it up right now!”?

Suggested Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, perhaps there are things in my life that I have been unwilling to clean out. Today I’d like to invite you into my heart, and I want you to feel at home there. I ask that you help me clean out any area where I might be hiding things that might keep me from wholly serving you. Thank you for your love and your mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

1. Psalm 139: 23-24 (NLT).