If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in.
By C. E. Harris
How sweet is the thought of Jesus' standing at the door of his people's hearts, knocking for admittance. Will he knock there and never come in? No, it is because he intends to come in that he comes to the door of his people, bringing them some of the choicest blessings that can be found in heaven. He brings them because he is going to bestow them upon his mourning saints. What has he brought them? Think upon it. First of all here is gold tried in the fire. It is tried gold, therefore contains no base alloy, and can never be diminished. Wise Counsellor! Faithful friend! He knew we needed this to fit us for the work assigned us in the closing scenes of the world's history. He knew that we should need this that we might stand unharmed when the wrath of an avenging God was falling upon a guilty world. He knew we should need it in order to abide the day of his coming, when the heavens and earth shall shake, the graves be opened, and be revealed in the glory of his Father, and all the holy angels with him. And this changes our poverty to riches. Does Jesus pronounce us rich when he has given us this gold? Ah yes, "that thou mayest be rich." He speaks no unmeaning words. Rich in the sight of the Son of God! Rich in the sight of the angels! Excellent gold! Dear Jesus, and this thou didst procure for us with thy blood, and now bringest to us that we may take it at thy hand. Teach us, thy people, how to receive it. We have been poor long enough. Thou hast long waited to make us rich. We have heard thy voice at the door, we have mourned that thou wast without, and now with thine aid we open the door that thou mayest come in and sup with us and we with thee. Come in, thou heavenly Guest! Thou hast long waited to come in, and now that unbelief no longer keeps thee out, thou dost come in and unlade thy burden of heavenly treasures to our astonished view. And thou wilt teach us how to apply them to ourselves that we may be equipped and fitted to serve thee, ready and waiting to do thy bidding. Throw open the door for Jesus to come in, my brethren and sisters! He desires to tarry no longer without. You desire the same. Then just let faith open the door, and he will be quickly in your midst. You will find that he is putting upon you the garment of his own righteousness, even white raiment, and you will be clothed. You will not be ashamed before the children of men. You will also find that your eyes are anointed; you will see that you may ask what you will, and it shall be given unto you. You will see that you have but just begun to love your fellow-men as Jesus loved them. You will see that those distinctions between the rich and poor, the high and low, that exist in the sight of men, but not in the sight of God, are vanished from your view also. You must follow Jesus in the work of laboring for the salvation of those from whom probation will soon be withdrawn. You will see how to do good and glorify your Father in heaven in every action of your life. You will see the clear and beautiful meaning of the word of the Lord as you have never seen it before. You will find how good it is take no thought for the morrow; that it is easy and delightful to obey Jesus in all his teachings, and that his promises are yours. Thus I have found it with myself, since Jesus came in at the door of my heart. Angels have heard me praise him, and I expect angels will hear one after another of God's repenting, believing, rising people praise him, as Jesus enters and they are refreshed from the presence of the Lord. Lunenburgh, Vt., Sept. 1858.