Hanging Out With Jesus

I was reminded recently of a conversation I had with a Christian brother who grew up in the Midwest and moved to California later in life.  He said one of the things he missed about his culture back home was it was acceptable and expected for friends to just "drop by" for a chat when they were in the area.  Having grown up and lived in California for a large portion of my life, I can affirm some do see it as inconsiderate and intrusive to show up at a friend's house without first calling ahead as a courtesy.  Mobile phones have made this even more expected.  My friend preferred the freedom to offer and receive hospitality at a moment's notice, for people to drop whatever they were doing to open the door and welcome you into their home--or vice versa.  He valued this accessibility and hospitality as a basic courtesy that was foreign to many Californians he met.

I had a friend at high school who lived in a gated residence on a prominent hill in the East County of San Diego.  His parent's property and house had a view you would see in a movie or in a music video--the kind of place that would be cool to drop by and hang out if you were in the area.  Despite my friend and his family being very friendly and welcoming, those locked, automated gates put the place off limits for me to "drop by."  I would only go there if I was giving my friend a ride or going to an organised gathering, for the gates sent the message these people obviously valued their privacy and ought to be able to enjoy their home in peace without the intercom buzzing at odd hours.  I may have been more welcome to show up unannounced than I thought I was, but I never wanted to intrude or outstay my welcome.  It was a privilege to be invited by my friend to his house and hang out, and I didn't want jeopardise my good standing by being a nuisance.

Isn't it awesome we can never be a nuisance to God because of His great lovingkindness towards us?  His kingdom and presence is infinitely more glorious than the most luxurious property or house.  I'm not quite sure my friend's parents knew my name without being reminded, but God knows us inside and out because He created us.  The privilege of being called, accepted and invited to God's throne room in heaven that is always open to Christians is beyond compare.  Think of it!  There is more security involved in turning a doorknob or pushing the button of an intercom at a gate than to be instantly in God's throne room of grace at our time of need.  And it isn't like God's throne room is reserved only for official business, for being infinite in power and wisdom God is able to do everything we cannot.  God is never inconvenienced and does not need to drop anything to focus on a matter at hand, for all is at His hand at all times and is perfectly, fully accomplished by Him without fail.  It is no imposition for God to give us all His attention, for being eternal He always has more time than there are seconds in the day.

Hebrews 4:14-16 says, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Jesus is always sympathetic with our weaknesses because He knows what it is to be human, and His triumph over all sin and temptation shows He is able to help us.  When the disciples rebuffed people who brought their babies to be blessed by Jesus, He rebuked them forcefully.  There are no locked gates, angelic guards or bailiffs we must explain ourselves to that block the way to freely enter the presence of God in heaven:  it is our sin that can block our way, sin Jesus shed His blood to provide atonement for.  We don't need to have an "official" reason to approach God's throne of grace, and we can drop by and hang out as long as we like without imposing upon our LORD who loves us.  What good reason do we have to ever leave?