After years of watching Alfred Hitchcock movies, I am finally beginning to
appreciate his work. The little details that we over look, the fine touches
that if were missing we would miss, but go unnoticed because we aren’t looking.
And one of his “Alfred Hitchcock Presents....” episodes has stuck with me for
years. See if you remember it, here we go.
A man moves into an old relative’s mansion. The old man who lived there
was wheelchair bound, and the old, but classy mansion has many personal touches
to it. Among them many doors, leading to rooms, closets, and hallways leading
to other rooms. Intriguing as well as fascinating, the new resident is told all
doors are open except for one, on the third floor, which is locked and sealed.
With no key to open it, the dying man’s request was the door never be opened.
Which only made the new owner want to open it more. But with his wife
preventing him from it, “can’t you just grant the dead man his last request?”
And so for a few weeks the door remains locked and sealed, with the many times
stopping and leaning on it, rubbing his hands against it, and listening,”what is
behind this door I cannot open?” And so he plots to see, when his wife goes
away for a few days. Her last warning to him, “don’t open that door.” And of
course we know what he does....
Thinking his wife is gone,he carefully unseals the door, so he can reseal
it leaving no evidence of his invasion. He finally has the door to the point he
can open it, and just as he is turning the knob to enter, he hears a car door.
Thinking it is his wife returning early, he pulls open the door and rushes in to
hide. And plummets 40 feet to his death. He has rushed into an empty elevator
shaft his relative had planned on building, but lost interest. Remember he was
wheelchair bound, and wanted to access his room on the third floor. But never
completing it, had it sealed of with the warning to never open the door.
Despite all warnings, the new owner disobeyed, rushed in and fell to his death.
After calling out to his wife for hours, the soundproofing muffling his cries
for help. Which she wouldn’t hear anyway, for he had heard no car door, only
his imagination warning him. He just had to know, and the knowledge cost him
his life. And only the wife’s look of horror and despair when she returned and
found the door opened. An episode to watched with someone in the dark. And
the whole time telling the TV set, “don’t go through that door, don’t go in
there...”
And so we live our lives like that. In suspense, in the dark, something we
are told not to do only haunting until we have to find out for ourselves, and
then find out too late why we were told no. Sadly too many people have the same
opinion of God, he is out to ruin their fun, telling them not to do things, and
creating a “thou shalt not” image of God that doesn’t exist anywhere but in
religion. But God does tell us no sometimes and for our own good. But when we
disobey, we suffer, and many times cannot look back and obtain a do over like we
did when we were kids. In one Old Testament story we are told of a king who is
told to defeat all his enemies on the battle field. But showing mercy to one he
disobeys God, and years later just before that General he didn’t kill attacks
him, remembers God’s word to him, “to take no prisoners, and totally defeat his
enemy.” Maybe the last words going through his mind before his enemy runs his
lance through him. God knew, God warned, he didn’t listen. How many times have
we not listened, have not obeyed and wished we had? Leaving too soon before the
end, forming our own judgments, and coming to wrong conclusions, sometimes
fatal. If only I had listened is no way to go through life,no way to reflect on
what may have been. But when we listen, we get the benefits...
On one return trip from Canada we stopped to spend the night in Reno.
Seeing a sign at Circus Circus advertising “ROOMS FOR $19” we stopped and got in
line, with about 200 people in front of us who had seen the same sign. After
not moving, a woman stood up on the counter and announced “NO MORE $19 ROOMS!”
and the place emptied out. And suddenly we were first in line, when she said,
“BUT WE DO HAVE SUITES FOR $29!” And how sweet is was. We got a huge suite, a
corner room with a hot tub for $29. Those who left only heard her first part of
the message, and suffered for it. Giving a new meaning to us of the scripture
“and the first shall be last.” The Lord had a room waiting for us, the others
only heard the price and never got the bargain.
Yet still deny the knocking of Jesus on their heart. With prejudices, and
listening to others who doubt, they miss out on the blessings he offers. Yet
others listen to the spirit and are saved, but give up listening after, thinking
“I’m saved, what else can there be to it?” And miss out on more blessings,
impatiently waiting for heaven for their reward. Curious about the things of
God, but never willing to pen the door and look in. They are just the opposite
of Hitch’s man who opened the door he was told not to, they fear and let their
fears dictate their lives. The inability to trust and obey leaves them bitter,
and soon turn on religion, blaming “that Jesus thing that doesn’t work.” When
it was them that failed, not Jesus.
When Barney Fife conducted an interview he explained “the first rule is to
obey all rules.” Simple enough, and God’s law is love. First him, then your
neighbor as yourself. Which you cannot do if you don’t love yourself, for
scripture also tells us we treat others as we feel about ourselves. One door
God knocks on wishing us to open up to is spirit, another he tells us to beware
and keep closed for our own safety. But how to know.....by trusting God, who
hears and answers. Not rushing for the door when the rooms are sold out.
Avoiding the sins that you know may not kill you, but make you miserable enough
you wish you would. And knowing when God closes one door, it may be because he
is opening another. Each no will be followed by a better yes....
Religion offers a cheap room, Jesus offers us a suite. Just for us. But
it takes trust, and you don’t trust someone you don’t know. Get to know Jesus,
read his word, let the spirit give the words meaning, and listen to that still
small voice. And when he locks a door, leave it locked until God opens it. Or
you just may get the shaft!
Don’t wait for years to see the little details Jesus is in your life. Don’t
live a life not noticing him.
“And now for something completely different...Good evening.” Don’t let
your legacy be “if only I had listened.”
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com