Did You Remember to Lock the Door?
When Denny's decided to close all but six of its 1,221 restaurants for Christmas in 1988, they ran into an unexpected problem—many of their locations didn't have locks on their doors because they had never needed to close before. As a result, the company had to install locks in more than 700 restaurants just so they could shut down for the holiday2.
It was a historic moment for the chain, which had always prided itself on being open 24/7, 365 days a year. The closure was meant to be a gift to employees, allowing them to spend Christmas with their families, even though it cost the company millions in lost revenue.
Imagine working at a place for years and never needing to lock the doors—then suddenly having to figure out how to close up shop! Quite the logistical challenge.
Like Denny's, you may want the door of your heart to be open 24/7. But there is inherent danger in doing so. You never know what unsavory or ill intentioned enemy might jiggle the doorknob and creep on in.
We want our hearts always to be "ready" to welcome the Lord ... and His people! Ready to receive all the Lord has for us! Ready for His return! Ready for opportunites to serve and care for the needs of others! Ready to serve up a "grand slam" of Christian hospitality or ministry.
But vigilence is key. Lock the doors, but be listening for the knock of His return or the knock of opportunity to minister and serve.
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12, ESV).
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10, ESV).
Having Done All, Stand!
Approximately 25% of the bones in your body are located in your feet; each foot contains 26 bones, making up about a quarter of the total bones in the human body. So important are the balance, posture, ambulation, and support qualities of the feet, that some have called these bi-pedal wonders the "starting infrastructure" of the rest of the body.
We are repeatedly exhorted in the Scriptures to "stand firm" in the faith.
Surely, the full Armour of God will both protect us against assualt, as well as equip us to take up the offensive against the schemes of the devil. But when was the last time you saw a great soldier lying down?
The full weight of all that armour can be daunting. As such, it's so important to have a firm and resolute foundation beneath us! That is why the Scriptures call us to, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith," and to act like men, be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13, ESV), so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes," and to "be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 610-15, NIV).
Protect your feet! — the foundation upon which all our faith is based! "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11, NIV).
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:10-15, NIV).
"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13, ESV).
"Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved (Philippians 4:1, ESV).
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11, ESV).
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1, ESV).
"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27, ESV).
"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter" (2 Thessalonians 2:15, ESV).
"Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith" (2 Corinthians 1:24, ESV).
Spiritual Loopholes
“If you find a loophole in a contract or an insurance policy, it will constitute an escape route for one of the parties. …
“During the Middle Ages, architects and builders had to deal with the matter of defending a castle once it was erected. Long-bows, followed by crossbows, were formidable weapons typically used by both the attackers and defenders. A narrow window, often oval at the top and wider at the inner side of a thick wall, was found to offer a difficult target from across a moat. At the same time, such an opening was big enough to enable defenders to fire at will.
“This special form of ‘loophole’ saved the hide of many a lord of the manor. When firearms made it obsolete, its name transferred to any ‘opening’ that provides an advantage to one party in a dispute or an agreement.”
Webb Garrison, formerly associate dean of Emory University and president of McKendree College, wrote more than 55 books, including Civil War Curiosities and Civil War Trivia and Fact Book before his death in 2000.
Likewise, God's word serves is a "loophole" to those who take refuge in it. By donning the word of God, we are able to stand firm against the fiery darts and assaults of the devil.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:10-17).
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