We call them “urban legends,” events or activities, places or things we
have heard about, but no one has ever seen. They are many in nature, as
Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil, and Mothman spring to mind. We actually stayed in a
hotel where Mothman was rumored to inhabit, or at least his spirit. Didn’t see
him, must have been his night off. But I am here to tell you of one urban
legend that I have seen myself, that does exist, has since I was young and
probably still does today. In fact I have seen it so many times that I didn’t
know it was the things of urban legends until someone reminded me. So I can say
this legend exists, and I have lived to tell about it. If only I had been smart
enough to take a few pictures to prove it, you must believe me when I say “I was
there.”
Growing up in New Jersey, many houses have a room that no one is allowed to
enter. Kept dark, no one asks about it, or dares to go in it. Kids don’t ask,
parents don’t offer any suggestions about it, it is just there. And not hidden,
but right out where it can be seen, and entered, yet no one does. In many older
folks homes, this room was kept dark, curtains pulled, and doilies covered the
furniture. Old pictures would adorn the walls, furniture from an earlier
generation may fill the room, and no one enters. A musty smell permeates the
room, like pre-death. In the homes when I was a kid, my girlfriend’s parents
had such a room, only used to go upstairs in their split level, never really
entering the room, but only using the access from the stairs, to the stairs. In
this room all the chairs and sofa were covered in plastic, popular in the
fifties, and no trace of anyone sitting on them was seen. Tomblike, the only
thing missing were signs “DO NOT TOUCH.” But it sure was implied. The curtains
drawn, I was never sure what color the room was, but thought the sofa to be
gold. Doilies on the end tables, no coffee table, and lamps that have never
seen the miracle of Edison illuminate them. We once talked about making out in
this room, but the thread of defiling it hung over our heads, for no one ever
went in. Therefore we didn’t know if anyone would come out. It seems this room
is popular, all houses have one, or the appearance of one, just in certain
families it is reserved this questionable status. To some legend, for me a real
thing, for I have seen the “Night of the Living Room.”
Yup, a living room. For some like my family, a place to gather, to meet,
to watch TV, a place where we lived. And I cannot recall any relatives who had
a living room who didn’t live in it. But many who were richer, who had bigger
homes, who could afford to have a room no one ever lived in had one. Not an
unpopular room in many of my richer friend’s homes, my old girlfriend’s the only
one I ever had access to, and then only on a limited basis. I had grown up in a
neighborhood of kids, who sometimes their mothers would tell us “you kids can
come in, but you cannot use the bathroom.” Never understood that one either,
maybe it was cooties, but I thought only girls had them. But here in some homes
for all to see, but few to enter, and no one to inquire or know about, was the
living room. Whether this phenomenon still endures today I cannot say, maybe it
was just a Jersey thing. But I have seen one, I even entered one, I even
entertained blasphemy of one...but have no proof other than the 35mm shrine in
my mind. And of all things, euphanistically called the living room.
When we come to Christ, we say we give him our entire life. Everything.
All, includes everything, excludes nothing. Yet there are places in our hearts,
rooms if you will where we do not let a living God have access. “I could never
let him know, I would not be forgiven,” we hear, and see the person suffer in
private, but visible to us. Some have become silent Christians, with no
evidence that Jesus Christ is in their lives. Even when asked, they try to
skirt the issue, not denying, but not acknowledging either. Double lives, one
in church, one at home. For me when I came to the Lord, I wasn’t sure what to
expect, but didn’t want to give up my old life style either. I gave him it all,
except drugs and girls. His answer surprised me, it may you, “OK.” But
something was happening in me, the spirit was changing me from the inside out,
and I found I no longer wanted to do those things. This room where life was
dark had been exposed to him, and he was changing my life. The eyes to my heart
were being opened, and as I saw more of Jesus, I wanted more of him, and less of
me. Teaching helped, good fellowship encouraged it, and staying in the Bible
drew me closer, but it took the spirit to change me. I had heard all the “thou
shalt nots,” and like many, rebelled against being told what I could not do.
“I’ll show you, I’ll be stupid,” and I was. Until Jesus changed my life. We
can teach truth, we can testify to what we have seen, but until the heart is
affected, no change will occur. None. And we find ourselves like the darkened
living room, a place no one goes, and no one knows why. Dark and unwelcoming,
a room we avoid. But when Jesus fills the heart, the room is filled with light,
the darkness no longer can hide, the covers come off the furniture, and suddenly
the room is useful, like once intended. People want to use it, they go in and
go out. It becomes part of the home once again, and a once off limits part of
your life, now shines. But only if God builds the house, for if he doesn’t we
labor in vain. Religion cannot change the heart, it will not unlock the doors
of darkness, nor will it forgive the sin surrounded with these dark areas. Only
Jesus can bring life, he is life, he is light, and in him is no darkness at
all. He reveals the things of the spirit to us, and we are changed. To be like
him, and so others can see.
If you have places in your life without Jesus, invite him in today. He can
use the bathroom, use the bath towels, sit in your kitchen and visit over a
latte. Or a Coke. He will bring light to all the rooms in your life, but you
must let him. You must answer the door when he knocks and let him in. Trusting
him means allowing him access to all, not just some rooms. But it all starts in
the heart, and from the mouth the heart will speak. Kinder,gentler words when
he lives there. And our minds will think different when he activates our
thoughts. But it is our decision...is your body a living testament to Jesus
Christ, or a tomb? How long has it been since you let him into the darkened
parts of your life? The room where living takes place, where all can see?
Don’t fall prey to the urban legend of religion. It is all too true, but
only Jesus saves, and only he will change your heart. I often wonder what my
girlfriend’s living room really looked like, but today I am more concerned for
her heart. Remove the covers from the curtains, let the sun in, and let the son
into your life. Invite Jesus into every room in your life, do not deny him
access to any. He will not deny you any of the riches of heaven, and you can
have the joy he mentions here and now. I have seen these rooms in my life
change when light came into them and darkness flees. There is no room in any
room for both, either the lights are on, or the lights are off. Night of the
Living Room is a real place, so is the light of the living God. Turn night into
day, darkness into light with Jesus. You can come in, and yes you can use the
bathroom. When the eyes to the heart are opened, you will see things much
differently. Now, onto the kitchen...let’s eat!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com