In a conversation with a 9-year-old boy, a youth worker was telling the story of Adam and Eve and how sin entered the world. He told the boy that Jesus died to pay the penalty for his sins, and that if he would ask Him into his heart He would come in. That night the boy invited Jesus to save him.

A few days later the youngster said to the youth worker’s wife, “I don’t have to talk to God long distance anymore.” “Why not?” she asked. Pointing to his heart, he replied, “Because He’s only 10 inches away.”

Amazing! Christ, by whom all things were created (Col. 1:16), comes to live in a sinner’s heart so that he or she senses a close relationship with God. That’s the miracle of the new birth.

This closeness, however, can be lost if we become lukewarm in our love for Jesus. That’s why He portrays Himself as standing outside the door of our heart waiting to be invited in so that this sense of intimacy can be renewed (Rev. 3:20). Disobedience can break that close fellowship, but it can be restored by repenting, opening our heart’s door anew to Him, and letting Him take full control once more. Jesus wants us to have the abiding assurance that He is even closer than 10 inches away.

  — Dennis J. De Haan