A guy called Sean Keane has a good sense of humor. I think I like Sean Keene. I Know nothing about him apart from this lengthy quote that you’re about to read. Here it is... “You hear a lot about people trying to work on their spirituality, get in touch with their God. Some people seem to want to be as close as possible with the Lord. Not me. My relationship with Jesus Christ is strictly business.
“He’s my carpenter. Handled the addition we put on the master bedroom. Works fast, polite to the kids, doesn’t work weekends. Technically, he’s a carpenter/messiah, because of the dying-for-my-sins thing. Saying my sins is kind of weird; it’s the accumulated sins of all of humanity, not just my stuff. I’m not ungrateful, but I also don’t want to get that thrown back in my face all the time. The last thing I need is him trying to guilt me into bringing him lemonade when he’s out on the roof.
“If it gets too personal with your savior, things can get weird. Out of nowhere, Jesus will start dropping hints about maybe going bowling, getting a bite to eat after church. Next thing you know he’s “just dropping in” every Saturday afternoon and inviting me to join his softball team, or go with him to wash lepers. No thanks .…
“Don’t get me wrong, Jesus is a nice guy. We just don’t have that kind of a relationship.”
I wish I could meet Sean Keane, shake him by the hand, and thank him for making me laugh. He seems like a decent guy. I would like to know about his spiritual journey, because he has surely been on one. His knowledge of the Gospel seems sound – he knows that Jesus died for his sins and those of the whole world. I respect his wish to have Jesus in his life, even though it is within clear limits – like on the roof, working.
“Jesus is a gentleman”, they told me when I was a kid. This wasn’t a rather obvious statement about his sex. No, it was an assessment of the character and conduct of Christ. He was a ‘Gentleman’, as distinct from a ‘cad’ or a ‘rascal’ or a ‘villain’. He was courteous, polite and respectful.
As such, Jesus doesn’t barge his way into people’s affairs when he’s not welcome. He would love for Sean Keene to welcome him into his life a bit more - maybe for lunch or dinner, perhaps even a sleepover in the spare room. But he won’t force Sean against his will. He stands at the door and knocks. He won’t guilt Sean out, or manipulate him into inviting him in.
Sometimes I’d rather Jesus would push his way into someone’s life – yes, even against their will. Some people, I think, don’t deserve God’s politeness. But I can’t change God’s nature, and that is to wait, like a gentleman, to be invited.
But, when we allow him in, we find something amazing and miraculous. Jesus, ever the gentleman, enters and settles down. He begins to make our lives his home. This might mean him asking if he can change the décor, throw out some of the old ugly and useless parts, bring in some healthy, attractive objects, like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Of course we can resist his wonderful interior design for our lives, but why would he? His taste is perfect and his handiwork supreme.
Don’t resist the Christ who has made his home in your heart. Let him redesign your inner life and then let that impact your outer one.