Locked out

As I write this very article, I find myself sitting on the back porch of my own home. I know it sounds a bit strange that I would just so happen to be relaxing on the back porch and think to write an article, but there is a bit more to the story than that. As I was preparing to leave for the office on Wednesday, I had gathered all my things and headed out of the house. When the door shut I knew immediately, I had left my keys inside. At this point, I was powerless. I did the only thing I knew to do and started calling out to people around me. I first called my father who has the only other key in existence to see if he was off work, and because he wasn’t I had to call my brother to come pick me up to go to the base. I then called Aunti Joan (who is probably chuckling the whole time she reads this) at the office to let her know that I’d be in late. If I wouldn’t have had the ability to call others then I never would have been as successful in getting back into the house, as I needed to be.
We all find ourselves outside of the House of God at some point. The cares and worries of the world can pull us out or tempt us to leave without the keys to get back in. So what are our keys to get back into the House of God?
Confession of Jesus as the Savior- Peter struggled with his own confession, and Jesus said the Church would be built on it (Matthew 16:18). However, Peter faltered in that confession not long after and denied his discipleship (John 18: 25-27). Confession shows an acceptance and acceptance leads to a willingness to follow.
If we are locked out, and want back in then we must reach out to those who are in the family of God. If we have someone reach out to us, then we must help him or her. Apollos erred from the truth and was gently guided back to the truth by Paul (Acts: 24-19:1). Paul goes on to say that we are to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2). This requires that we are active in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and they want to re-establish that relationship with God.
It is easy to get locked out of the house sometimes. We get wrapped up in what we do and before we know it we can’t get back in. We need to be looking for those who have locked themselves out and help them get back in. For me, I’m off to pick up a spare set of keys.

Kyle