I got the call. There was a concern. The appearance seemed to be OK, but something wasn’t right. I got to the location, and saw that the patio doors on a home weren’t closing and sealing out the weather as designed. Everything looked fine, but when I shut the door, the whole frame seemed to move. For the record, the frame is notsupposed to be moving when the door is closed. The door fit wasn’t proper and was binding. When I checked the outside, I saw there was aluminum siding on the home, and the frame of the patio door was clad in aluminum. From the outside, I shut the door again, and was astounded that the whole assembly seemed not to be connected to the home. Seriously???

I backed away a short distance and asked the homeowner to repeat the procedure. This was not an inexpensive home, I thought. So, with permission, I did some minor investigative surgery by removing some aluminum cladding from the door frame and found the wood frame that held the patio doors had rotted away from the inside. My conclusion was the siding installer did a sub-professional job of flashing and weather proofing, allowing water entry behind the aluminum. This water rotted the frame over time, hidden from view. It wasn’t until the recognition of the situation, that there was a problem. The instruction from the homeowner was to replace the entire patio door assembly. The cost was high, but had to be done to restore the residence. The door had to be replaced, and I was asked to do it. This time, the precautions were taken so that it was done right.

On August 17th, 1975; I got another call. Something wasn’t right in the church I was attending. Everything looked OK from the outside, but things were in very bad shape on the inside. The appearance was not objectionable, but things were not fitting right and were out of control. I don’t mean the structure of the building real estate. I am talking about my life back then. I was not a Christian believer. My personal hygiene was fine, and my clothes were pressed and clean. I appeared like everyone else except on the inside. I was decaying in my sins.

The call I got was the Lord reaching into my life, revealing how He died for my sins, and was ready to make everything right. He knew I was out of control, lost, and not even connected to the narrow way to heaven. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” He knocked on my heart’s door and I invited Him in, and He changed my life forever.

I remember that day vividly, because He showed the true condition of my life and my heart down deep, where people cannot see. The outside looked fine, but here was nothing holding it together. Until Jesus came. He told me a total replacement was going to be needed. The cost was high, because His life paid for my repairs. I chose that. Replacing the aluminum cladding wouldn’t help the situation, just like fixing up what shows on a person doesn’t mean that person is heaven-bound.

Every “door” in the world needs replacing. But there are SO many out there that don’t even know! So, it is our job to knock on other people’s “doors”, and ask them to test them. Then explain that Jesus Christ is the open door to eternity with Him. But if we let opportunities go by at school, at work, in our leisure times, and doing everyday activities, how will they know? The cost is high for the replacement, but it has already been paid. But the cost of NOT receiving Christ is much, much higher. But when Jesus does the job, it’s done right.

“Lord, help us to lead lives of examples so that others may be see the soundness of our structural beliefs and the genuineness of our conversations. In Your Bible, I Peter 1:15 says, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation…” Infuse our conversations at home, at school, and at work so that we can be chosen vessels to reach non-believers. Allow us to point to the cross to show people that replacement of worldlyvalues is required. Values aren’t seen until the evidence points to it. Then restoration can happen.InJesus’ Name, Amen.”