Next Room

“But whoever listens to me shall dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil” Prov. 1:33

We are given opportunities everyday to hear. Often, we hear, so often, that we take listening for granted. We’ve grown accustomed to the words and noise of this world, in our life, and the whispers within our own heart. They are like the ticking clock in the next room. We know its there, we know its sound but we really don’t listen to it. I wonder-has the voice of God’s Spirit been relegated to the next room in our hearts?

What happened that His Word no longer satisfies our hearts? What changed? What went wrong that in the next room sits our Bibles while we watch this… do that… attend to this… are occupied with… All with no thought, little regard that the very words of Life, encouragement, instruction, chastisement, and peace that our soul so craves is in the next room, the next decision.

Where’s that fluid joy that washed over our hearts, melted away our pride, and prompted Bible studies into the long hours of the night? Where’s the giving, sharing, and love that marked us as like Christ – as Christians? Recall how safe you felt, how secure, how peaceful and calm you felt, you knew when you first came to Christ. The world and its problems could drift by but you were at peace as you listened, conversed, and read about or to your dearest friend, Jesus. You read in your study, in your car, on the steps of your home, your school, or with your back against a tree. Life was joyous and you could not wait to extend the joy given to you to others.

Something changed. We changed. Our hearts changed for Christ. With work we can remember our First Love. With diligence we can hear clearly the voice calling from the next room. For heaven is not that far away. It’s only a door and a room away. Jesus is that door and he’s only a prayer, a turn of a page, a whisper (if we listen) away.