Let Him Out!

Last Monday, my Morning Manna was about our terminology of saying Jesus was in our heart vs. Him being in our life. One of the responses was from my friend Judy, who further spoke of the “heart” issue when she wrote, “When my younger daughter was 3, she asked where God is. “Everywhere.” “Even in me?” “Yes, even in you.” “Is he stuck in there?”  Shortly after I wrote that article, my great-grandson asked his mother where Jesus was.  When he was told that Jesus lives in our hearts, his response was, “Well, I’m going to let Jesus out.”  Not bad theology for a three-year old.  After all, since Jesus came to live and die for all persons, it would be rather selfish, at least in the mind of three-year olds, for Jesus to be “stuck” in a heart, or for us to keep Him confined in there. So, “Let Him out,” makes sense. Frankly, I’m not sure how well that thinking would work in a Seminary-level Systematic Theology class, but it would be worth observing.  It might find better response in an Evangelism class.  Jesus Himself said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).  Might He have said, “If I be let out (of where I appear to be stuck), I will draw all peoples to Myself?” Let Him out!