Make Room
This Advent I have been following the Hallow App Pray25 challenge. I know some of you reading this now have been too. This daily reflection led by Jonathan Roumie, Liam Neeson, and others, with its focus on the writings of C.S. Lewis, has captivated me. The recurring theme of the coming of Christ - His first coming more than 2,000 years ago, His second coming at the end of time, and most presently, His current desire to come into our hearts has really touched me.
The first coming of Christ…have I thought about what a radical event this was? The Holy Spirit came upon Mary. Divinity and humanity met, and a babe was conceived and born. As C.S. Lewis described it in Mere Christianity, “The secret invasion of God, entering into enemy-occupied territory.”
The second coming of Christ…have I thought about these end times? It’s not something I gravitate toward reflecting on until I think about it in the context of: will I be ready for it? Have I made room for Jesus so that I’m prepared?
The third coming of Christ…do I recognize the daily desire of Jesus to come into my heart? Both His first and the second comings lend to the present pondering of Jesus’ desire to enter our hearts today, each and every day. C.S. Lewis, again in Mere Christianity, crafts the analogy of a living house. I love it so much that I thought I’d share:
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
God intends to come and live in it Himself.
What a mystery. What a wonder!
I pray that you have peace and joy this Christmas season. May you allow Christ to dwell within you. Make room for Him.
Merry Christmas!
