Revelation 3:20 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… Behold, I stand at the door, etc. These words, so welt known and much loved, however their primary intention may have had regard to a sinful community like the Church at Laodicea, nevertheless lend themselves so aptly to the setting forth of Christ's dealing with individual sinful souls, and have been so often used in this way, that once more we employ them for the like purpose. They supply three vivid pictures. I. OF OUR SAVIOR "Behold, I stand," etc.; and they reveal him to us in all his grace, he is represented: 1. As in constant nearness to the soul. He stands at the door. He does not come for once and then depart, but there he continues. 2. And he knocks at the door: not merely stands there. The soul is like a great palace that has many doors. And Christ knocks sometimes at the one door and sometimes at another. There is: (1) The door of the intellect. To this he comes with the evidence of the reasonableness of his faith and claims. (2) Of the conscience. To this he shows the goodness and righteousness of that which he asks; how he ought to be obeyed. (3) Of love. He wakes up, or seeks to wake up, the spirit of gratitude in response to all he is and has done for the soul. (4) Of fear. The alarm of the awakened conscience, the fearful looking for of judgment, are the means he uses. (5) Of hope. The blessed prospect of eternal peace and purity and joy. 3. And he knocks in many ways. (1) Sometimes by his Word. As it is quietly read in the sacred Scriptures, some text will arrest and arouse the soul. Or, as it is faithfully, lovingly, and earnestly preached: how often he knocks in this way! And (2) sometimes by his providence. Sickness; bereavement; loss of wealth, or friends, or other earthly good; disaster; the approach of pestilence; nearness of death; trouble of mind, body, or estate; - all are the Lord's knockings. And (3) sometimes by his Spirit. These more often than any. "The Spirit... says, Come." 4. And we know that he does this. Have we not been conscious of his appeals again and again? 5. See what all this reveals of him. (1) His infinite patience. How long he has waited for some of us, year after year, and is not wearied yet! (2) His gracious condescension. That he, our Lord and Saviour, should thus deal with us. (3) And, above all, what infinite love! Behold, then, this portrait of our all-gracious Saviour and Lord, and let it draw your hearts to him as it should. II. OF THE SOUL - the soul of each one of us. Our text shows the soul: 1. As the object of Christ's anxious concern, He would not else be thus standing and knocking at the door of our hearts. And the reason is that he knows: (1) The soul's infinite value and preciousness. He knows its high capacities - that it can love and worship, resemble, and rejoice in God. (2) Its terrible peril. Were it not so, there would not be need for such anxious concern. It is in peril of losing eternal life and of incurring eternal death. It is nigh unto perishing - a lost sheep, a lost piece of silver, a lost child. 2. As exercising its fearful Tower. Refusing Christ, keeping him outside the soul. Many other guests are admitted freely, but not Christ. (1) The soul has this power of refusal. None other has. Not the stars of heaven, not the mighty sea, not the raging winds, not the devouring fire. All these obey. But the soul can refuse. (2) And here it is exercising this power. That Christ is kept outside the soul is the testimony of: (a) Scripture. Texts innumerable tell of the estrangement of the human heart from God. (b) Conscience. Does not the ungodly man know that Christ does not dwell within him, that he has no room for him - however it may be with other guests - in his soul? And the strange, sad reluctancy to speak for Christ to others shows how partial is his possession of even Christian souls. (c) Facts. See what men are and say and do; mark their conduct, their conversation, their character; examine the maxims, principles, and motives which regulate them, and see if Christ be in all or any of them. And this, not only in men brought up in ungodliness, but often in those trained in pious homes, and from whom you would have expected better things. (3) And this is the soul's own doing. It voluntarily excludes Christ. When his appeal is heard, and very often it is, men divert their thoughts, distract them with other themes; or deaden their convictions, by plunging into pleasure, business, sin; or delay obedience, procrastinating and putting off that which they ought promptly to perform. Ah, what guilt! Ah, what folly! (4) And this is the sin "against the Holy Ghost, which hath never forgiveness." Not any one definite act, but this persistent exclusion of Christ. The. knocking of the Lord is heard more and more faintly, until at length, although it goes on, it is not heard at all. The sin has been committed, and the punishment has begun. But the text contemplates also the happier alternative. 3. The soul claiming its greatest privilege - opening the door to Christ. He says, "If any man will open," thereby plainly teaching us that men may and should, and - blessed be his Name - some will, open that door. (1) The soul can do this. It is part of its great prerogative. It could not say, "Yes," if it could not say, "No;" but because it can say, "No," it can also say, "Yes." (2) And the opening the door depends upon its saying, "Yes." This is no contradiction to the truth that the Holy Spirit must open the heart. Both are essential; neither can be done without. It is a cooperative work, as consciousness and Scripture alike teach. But the Spirit ever does his part of the work; it is we only who fail in ours. May we be kept here from! III. SALVATION. The result of such opening the door is this, and the picture that is given of it is full of interest. 1. Christ becomes our Guest. "I will sup with him." Now, if we invite any one to our table, we have to provide the feast. But what have we to set before Christ that he will care for? Ah, what? "All our righteousnesses" - will they do? Not at all. In this spiritual banquet that which he will most joyfully accept is ourselves, coming in contrition and trust to rest upon his love. "The sacrifices of God," etc. (Psalm 51.). Let us bring them; they, but naught else, will be well pleasing to him. But the scene changes. 2. Christ becomes our ]lost. "He with me." Ah! now what a difference! "Blest Jesus, what delicious fare! How sweet thine entertainments are!" This we shall soon realize. (1) There is full, free pardon for every sin. (2) Next, the assurance of his love, that he has accepted us. (3) Power to become like him - renewing, regenerating grace. (4) His peace, so that in all trial and sorrow we may "rest in the Lord." (5) Power to bless others, so that they shall be the better for having to do with us. (6) Bright hope, blessed outlook to the eternal inheritance. (7) And at last, in due time, that inheritance itself. Such are some of the chief elements of that banquet at which Christ is the Host; and all the while there is sweet, blessed intercourse, hallowed communion, with himself. He is "known to us in the breaking of bread." CONCLUSION. How, then, shall it be? Shall we still keep the door of our hearts barred against him? May he forbid! We can do this; alas! some will. But we can open the door. Do that. "In the silent midnight watches, List! thy bosom door! How it knocketh - knocketh knocketh - Knocketh evermore! Say not 'tis thy pulse is beating: Tis thy heart of sin; Tis thy Saviour knocks and crieth, 'Rise, and let me in.' "Death comes on with reckless footsteps, To the hall and hut; Think you, Death will tarry knocking Where the door is shut? Jesus waiteth - waiteth - waiteth But the door is fast; Grieved, away thy Saviour goeth: Death breaks in at last. "Then 'tis time to stand entreating Christ to let thee in; At the gate of heaven beating, Waiting for thy sin. Nay - alas! thou guilty creature; Hast thou then forgot? Jesus waited long to know thee, Now he knows thee not." S.C. Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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