Knocking at the Door

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 26, 1865

Knocking at the Door.

It is the boast of English freedom that the monarch cannot enter the humblest cottage without leave of the one who dwells there. He has power to do it, but the constitution of the realm forbids. Civil freedom makes every man's house his castle. If the monarch would enter he thinks best to knock, and give the occupant an opportunity to welcome him. So the Divine Monarch, when he comes to our homes, our hearts, says, "Behold I stand at the door and knock." He does not force open the door. He could. He does not think best to. He prefers to come in as a friend and guest, not as a burglar.

He knocks. Perhaps you do not hear him. Many times when a friend knocks at your door you are making such a din inside, or are so busily occupied in mind, that you do not hear him. So pleasure or worldliness may make us deaf to the Saviour's call. His Word, his providence, his Spirit are unheeded.

He knocks. Sometimes you can tell who is knocking at your door, before you open it. If not, you are not willing to open and see who it is. You can tell the Saviour's knock, if you will only listen. That single thought of God, of death, of judgment; that pang of anxiety for the future; that view of Jesus on his cross; that earnest look from a Christian friend; that sermon; that passage from your Bible; the words you are now reading—these among other things come to your heart from a waiting, knocking Saviour.

Shall he wait longer? Reverse the situation. Let an anxious sinner begin to ply an unwilling Saviour with arguments, beseeching him to come in, calling to him that the door is open, that he shall receive a hearty welcome, that all the sinner can give, even to life itself, shall be his if he will only come in. Who could complain if all this were necessary to induce the glorious Monarch to enter? But the beseeching is all on the other side. Jesus is indeed unwilling, but unwilling to go away.

What a picture! The Son of God begging for the privilege of making his abode with a sinner! What another picture! The Son of God refused admittance until he takes his final leave! Reader, open the door! Do it now.—Tract Jour.