“I Stand at the Door and Knock.”
It is Jesus who says this. He knocks at the door of the heart. Knocking implies a desire to enter. And he speaks as well as knocks: “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” He seeks to come in, that he may bless the soul with his richest gifts. “I will sup with him, and he with me.” Feasting together is the token and pledge of friendship. Spiritual feasting is communion of soul. Such communion with Christ is the earnest and pledge of Heaven. He knocks that he may be invited to come in. He might force an entrance; but if not welcomed, his presence would be no blessing. It would only excite terror and alarm. He will not come in unless made welcome. “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.” Wherever his gospel is faithfully preached, and its promises and invitations pressed home upon the heart, Jesus is knocking, and pleading for admittance. Through the admonitions and entreaties of a Christian friend urging the duty of immediate repentance, he often knocks. When property wastes away, earthly plans are blighted, and worldly prospects are dark, Jesus, laden with heavenly treasures, asks to come in and enrich the soul. When he lays his hand upon some beloved child, parent, companion, friend, and the form so much loved is borne to its last resting-place, oh! how loudly does he knock, and ask to come in to fill the void, to soothe and comfort the bleeding heart, and be dearer and better than all earthly friends. When prosperity smiles, when the destroyer is kept back and health returns, ease after pain, and comfort after sorrow, how kindly and gently does he knock, that the grateful soul, melted into penitence and love by his goodness, may open the door. Amid the solemn scenes of a revival of religion, when the Spirit of God is descending, many are inquiring after the way of life, and new-born souls are rejoicing in hope, Christ is knocking. By his Spirit he moves upon the hearts, calls up to remembrance sins of the past, suggests thoughts of death, judgment, and eternity, and urges the soul to flee for refuge to the blood of atonement. Every motion of the Spirit is a knock at the door. In some of these ways, has not Jesus knocked at the door of your heart? It may be that, amid the din of worldly pursuits or revelry of earthly pleasures, you have not heard his voice; still he has been knocking. Even now, in his long-suffering, he is waiting at the door. If you will hear his voice, and open the door, he will come in. But he will not always wait. He has said, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.”