"Check that it exists before you set off."

After the days of the Passover had ended, Joseph and Mary returned from Jerusalem, while Jesus remained there without their knowing it. He was twelve years old at the time. After traveling for a full day, they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances, but they could not find Him. So they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. After three days, they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers.

When they saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “My son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have been searching for You in great distress.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for Me? Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He was saying to them. (Luke 2)

We do not say this to blame the saints, but rather to learn a lesson for ourselves. His parents went back only after traveling for a day. Yet how many days—and perhaps months or years—can pass without us checking whether His presence is still with us? We leave Him behind and continue on our way, assuming that He is the One who should follow us.

We leave Him behind when we ignore His word through which He desires to speak to our hearts.

We leave Him behind when we stop gathering with Him and in His name with our brothers and sisters, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some” (Hebrews 10:25).

We leave Him behind when we insist on doing what pleases us and cast His commandments behind our backs.

We leave Him behind when we see Him carrying the cross and calling us to deny ourselves and follow Him, passing through the narrow gate and walking the difficult road (Matthew 7:13).

Yes, we leave Him behind when He asks us to let go of everything that is precious to our hearts and follow Him, carrying the cross (Mark 10:23).

But, my dear brother, if you have never experienced His presence in your life before, perhaps you can hear His knocking at the door of your heart even now. Open the door and invite Him to come in—with Him come forgiveness, freedom, joy, glory, and peace.