Waiting At The Door

My neighbor’s dog was out when I went on my early morning walk.
This is the dog that never barks at me.
This is the dog with whom I am friends.
I talk to the dog by name every morning.

I saw a few deflated balls in the yard.
This Bernese Mountain Sheepdog likes to carry the balls around in his mouth.
He is the protector of the yard.
He is the protector of the house.

I assume that since I talk to him every morning, he trusts me.
I hear him bark at other people.
I am delighted that he does not bark at me.
I heard him on my walk and wondered why he was barking.

I knew that the bark I heard was not typical.
It was a short bark.
It had a little bit of a whine at the end.
I could not imagine what was wrong.

I approached the house, after already saying hello to him when I passed the first time.
He was barking that short bark with a bit of a whine.
I got closer to the house and saw him.
He was laying on the front step near the front door.

His back was to the yard and the street and to any intruders.
He is a large, cuddly dog.
His body took up the entire width of the step.
His tail was hanging over the edge of the step, wagging.

He barked the short bark with the whine at the end.
He was facing his house.
He was looking in the sidelights that are next to the front door.
His people were inside and he wanted to be with them.

I imagined he wanted some food in his bowl.
I imagined he wanted some water.
I imagined he wanted to play with his favorite toys.
I imagined he wanted to come in from the cold.

He saw his people through the sidelights.
The door was between them.
Someone needed to open the door from the inside to let him in.
He was letting them know that he was there and that he was ready to come in.

I smiled at the scene.
If I was an artist, I would have drawn the picture I saw.
It was a picture of anticipation.
It was a picture of longing for home.

My husband used to tease me that I was fine on vacation until about the fifth day.
Actually it was more like five and a half days.
After that, I was ready to go home.
Even if the vacation was wonderful, it was not home.

There are people that long to see new places.
There are people that long to travel the world.
I am not one of them.
Perhaps that is why I relate to my Bernese Mountain Sheepdog friend.

Outside is fine.
Outside is even desirable for a time.
However, inside beckons.
The family awaits.

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)

The Lord Jesus wants to be with His people.
Many have closed their heart and shut their door to Him.
He is calling.
Once His voice is heard, there must be a response.

The Lord Jesus longs to eat a fellowship meal with His people.
One day, there will be the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
Jesus will eat with us and we will eat with Him.
Do you hear Him?

Do you hear His knock?
Are the sounds of the world drowning out His call to your heart?
Is there a cacophony of sound competing with the only voice that truly matters?
The Lord Jesus will be heard.

I saw the tenacity of the Bernese Mountain sheepdog.
His people were inside the house.
Someone needed to open the door so he could come inside.
He had one purpose that would not be thwarted: he wanted to go inside.

The call of the Lord Jesus cannot be ignored.
Do you see Him there?
He wants to eat a meal with you.
He wants fellowship; He wants to spend time with you.

Do you hear His knock?
Do you hear His call?
If the Lord Jesus calls you, you cannot ignore it.
Jesus’ call will be heard.

It is a picture of anticipation.
It is a picture of longing for Home.
Inside beckons.
The Family awaits.