CLOSETS & CHRISTIANS

Closets & Christians

It’s understandable that in times of persecution a Christian might possibly stay quiet about his beliefs. That aside, Christianity by nature needs to be expressed before others.  The true Christian has a life-transforming message backed up by a transformed life. Christianity is not a private religion. Therefore closet Christianity is a contradiction of terms.

However, this is not to say that the Christian is not to spend time in the closet. Jesus says to His disciples, “But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6.

The word ‘closet’ or ‘room’ as used here is the same word for ‘storehouse’ elsewhere. A storehouse is a building in which goods are stored: a warehouse. Thus the Christian is to spend time in his heavenly Father’s storehouse talking to Him and asking Him for things. Therefore, as soon as the Christian opens his mouth to talk to His Father his little closet becomes a giant warehouse full of goods!

Is there anything that God is not able to supply? Jesus says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11.

The Christian’s prayer closet is a room with a view. It is where time meets with eternity, the finite with the infinite. Thus the Christian’s closet is a box of paradox. The creature meeting the Creator is a speck of dust engaging the Omnipresent. God remains everywhere at once while He condescends to fully engage His spiritual child by wrapping His everlasting arms around him and lifting him up to hear what he has to say.

Prayer is an infant’s gurgling and lisping. And as a wide-eyed toddler in a massive toyshop the child of God excitedly asks for things he wants. But the only wise God gives us what we need. And as a doting parent showers its infant with kisses, so the heavenly Father showers His children with blessings. 

Jesus lists some of these blessings in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:2-10.

God confirms His covenanted blessings to the Christian when he enters his closet. But these are only some of the plethora of good gifts contained in God’s infinite storehouse. They are tokens of God’s saving grace.

God’s saving grace cannot be earned. It is a free gift provided by Jesus Christ. Enter your closet and seek God’s grace. But do so only in Jesus’ name. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. It’s just as Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6b.

And when you exit the closet share the grace He has shown you with others. The Christian cannot remain in the closet. He is compelled to express God’s love by loving his neighbour as himself. Do this, and see if God won’t reward you openly.