“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)
You never know who might show up at your door. The Trojans paid dearly for foolishy opening their doors to the Greeks “lovely” gift of a wooden horse. Messengers of death can come wrapped in a pretty package.
To “entertain” someone means to receive them as a guest. We also speak of “entertaining an idea” which means to give attention or consideration to something. Job said: “The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.” (Job 31:32) Yet, when evil “knocked on his door,” Job would not let it in, he would not entertain it.
To fear God is to “eschew evil.” This was God’s testimony of Job. The word eschew means to turn something aside. To eschew evil shoo it away when it shows up.
There are many sights that present themselves to our eyes and thoughts that present themselves to our mind. They come “knocking” because they want us to entertain them, granting them a place in our mind and heart. If we are going to walk in the fear of the Lord we must turn aside such requests for entrance into the sanctuary of our soul.
When lust came knocking on Job’s door, he refused to entertain it. His conscience bore him witness that he had made a covenant with his eyes that he would not look upon a young lady to lust after her. (Job 31:1)
Our greatest possession is a good conscience. We can have it if we will walk in the fear of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. If Job walked in it without the provisions of this new and better covenant, how much more should we maintain our integrity?
How much confidence will we have when the enemy will lay a charge to us of great wickedness and infinite iniquities if we have not been opening the door to evil of any kind?
The charges of men and devils fall flat when our conscience does not accuse us. Leave evil in the street. Let it know that it is unwelcome in a holy house.