Each day we wake in the morning could be the last day of our lives.”
–C. J. Petit (Retribution)
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
–Revelation 3:21(NKJV)
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Once in a while, many years ago when Ronald Reagan was President, my Grandma and Aunt would scurry around cleaning up the house. They would hustle and bustle cleaning and tidying things up. They’d look over at me and smile, “You never know, Nancy might come knocking at the door one day and we wouldn’t want the house a mess.” Now we all knew that Nancy Reagan wasn’t going to come visiting our humble abode, but it was fun pretending. With that I want to share this morning from Lois A. Cheney’s book, God Is No Fool.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
“What door?”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
“What will it cost to let you in?”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
“Let me tidy up a bit. I’d be embarrassed to have you see things as they are here, just now.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
“It will truly be an honor, a moving experience, to have you in my humble home.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
. . .
“I want so much for you to come in.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
. . .
“Please, oh please, let yourself in.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock
Behold I stand. . .
Behold . . .”
Here we have the picture of Christ knocking. He is knocking at the door to your inner home. How do you respond? Christ wants to enter. He has paid the supreme sacrifice on Calvary and is wanting to give the gift of His precious blood to you. What is the response? Some will ignore the knock. Others will worry about the cost, oh, and friend, let me tell you–it will cost you everything, but then you’ll receive even more when He comes to abide with you. True, some are embarrassed. When the preacher gives the invitation, pride and shame haunt them and they will not take that step. Some are happy, but still do not open the door. Perhaps they feel it is sufficient that the Lord even took the time to knock on their door. And then there are those who are hard, and snap, “the door’s unlocked let yourself in.” Rudeness is apparent.
People say they want a relationship with Jesus, but then they refuse to open the door. They hide something, or try to clean up something, and before they know it, the Lord has moved on. When Christ knocks on the door, there is great responsibility. Eternity depends upon your response. A man has a choice, to answer or not to answer. Jesus will not break in; He must be invited in to dine with you. “Every man is lord of the house of his own heart; it is his fortress; he must open the gates of it…” (Trench)
No matter the urging, the man must open the door. No matter how hard the Master knocks, the door still must be opened by the owner. No matter how the Holy Spirit pleads, the door must still be opened. Worried about the cost, don’t be. Too ashamed, Jesus was beaten, spit upon, and mocked. Don’t bother with tidying up, He knows all about you, just let Him in. Think of what it would be like for the Lord to sit down and dine with you. If you are a true believer, you know that feeling. You have that relationship. He is your constant companion.
Let me close with Henry A. Harbuck’s translation. Take time to ponder and contemplate. Note the emphasis given.
“Behold–pay attention! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he [will in like manner] eat with me.”
———————————–
Once in a while, many years ago when Ronald Reagan was President, my Grandma and Aunt would scurry around cleaning up the house. They would hustle and bustle cleaning and tidying things up. They’d look over at me and smile, “You never know, Nancy might come knocking at the door one day and we wouldn’t want the house a mess.” Now we all knew that Nancy Reagan wasn’t going to come visiting our humble abode, but it was fun pretending. With that I want to share this morning from Lois A. Cheney’s book, God Is No Fool.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
“What door?”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
“What will it cost to let you in?”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
“Let me tidy up a bit. I’d be embarrassed to have you see things as they are here, just now.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
“It will truly be an honor, a moving experience, to have you in my humble home.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
. . .
“I want so much for you to come in.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
. . .
“Please, oh please, let yourself in.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock
Behold I stand. . .
Behold . . .”
Here we have the picture of Christ knocking. He is knocking at the door to your inner home. How do you respond? Christ wants to enter. He has paid the supreme sacrifice on Calvary and is wanting to give the gift of His precious blood to you. What is the response? Some will ignore the knock. Others will worry about the cost, oh, and friend, let me tell you–it will cost you everything, but then you’ll receive even more when He comes to abide with you. True, some are embarrassed. When the preacher gives the invitation, pride and shame haunt them and they will not take that step. Some are happy, but still do not open the door. Perhaps they feel it is sufficient that the Lord even took the time to knock on their door. And then there are those who are hard, and snap, “the door’s unlocked let yourself in.” Rudeness is apparent.
People say they want a relationship with Jesus, but then they refuse to open the door. They hide something, or try to clean up something, and before they know it, the Lord has moved on. When Christ knocks on the door, there is great responsibility. Eternity depends upon your response. A man has a choice, to answer or not to answer. Jesus will not break in; He must be invited in to dine with you. “Every man is lord of the house of his own heart; it is his fortress; he must open the gates of it…” (Trench)
No matter the urging, the man must open the door. No matter how hard the Master knocks, the door still must be opened by the owner. No matter how the Holy Spirit pleads, the door must still be opened. Worried about the cost, don’t be. Too ashamed, Jesus was beaten, spit upon, and mocked. Don’t bother with tidying up, He knows all about you, just let Him in. Think of what it would be like for the Lord to sit down and dine with you. If you are a true believer, you know that feeling. You have that relationship. He is your constant companion.
Let me close with Henry A. Harbuck’s translation. Take time to ponder and contemplate. Note the emphasis given.
“Behold–pay attention! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he [will in like manner] eat with me.”