The Divine Visit

Job 31:14 says, “What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?”

Our first house was a “fixer-upper.” It was without electricity or water. It had not been lived in for 27 years. Birds had flown in and roosted. A dead pigeon was stuck on the ceiling lamp. The front room floor was two inches thick with dirt and bird manure. It was a 100% total rebuild. But, it was in the country! It was not ready for visitors. It is a picture of your life and mine when Jesus first knocks on our “door” for a visit.

As Job recognized, everyone will someday have a visit from the Divine God. The question is, “what shall I answer Him?” The psalmist said in Psalm 44:20, “…he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” We can look good, sound good, be in great physical condition, even smell good—all to no avail.

When Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse to find the king for Israel, he saw Eliab and was impressed. He was sure this son was God’s anointed. “But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature: because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (I Samuel 16:7).

In Luke 19:41-44, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, proclaiming the destruction that was about to come upon it. The destruction was to come because they knew not the time of their visitation. He was speaking of His own visit. In Matthew 9:10, we see that Jesus ate with sinners. In verse 13, He states His purpose was to call sinners to repentance. His desire was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

Satan is also looking for a chance to visit you. In Job 1:7, God asked Satan where he had been. He responded that he had been going to and fro in the earth. I Peter 5:8 states, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Never underestimate his power to visit. Revelation 12:12 also says, “…Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” 

At the first of Jesus’ ministry He was visited by Satan. He for sure will visit you. What will you say? Jesus quoted the Scripture.

The first Divine visit we have record of is the Spirit of God moving on the face of the waters. In John 14:10-11, Jesus is telling the disciples that the Father is abiding in Him. In verses 16 & 17, He tells them that He will send the Holy Spirit to dwell not only with them, but in them.

When Jesus knocks on our heart door, and we open the door (Revelation 3:20), and invite Him in, He stays for supper. What a meal! Satan is outside waiting for Jesus to leave. He is ready to get us right back in bondage. That is why we need our heart filled with the Holy Spirit, to answer the door for us and keep us from the evil one. The Divine Visitor takes up residence.

The old “fixer-upper” house was restored. One day a wedding took place in the once bird-infested front room. When Jesus does that for us, we can answer the Divine visit with, “Make yourself at home; I’m your bride!”