Standing At The Door Knocking

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (1)

Every warning, reproof, and entreaty in the word of God is a knock at the door of the human heart. It is the voice of Jesus asking for entrance. Every condemnation in the judgment will not result from the fact that men and women have been in error, but from the fact that they have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for learning what is truth. He waits for us to open the door of the heart to Him and allow Him to come in. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me."

"From eternal ages it was God's purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the indwelling of the Creator. Because of sin, humanity ceased to be a temple for God. Darkened and defiled by evil, the heart of man no longer revealed the glory of the Divine One. But by the incarnation of the Son of God, the purpose of Heaven is fulfilled. God dwells in humanity, and through saving grace the heart of man becomes again His temple." (2)

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? --For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." (3) No man can of himself cast out the evil that has taken possession of the heart. Only Christ can cleanse the soul temple. But He will not force an entrance. He does not force entrance into the heart; but He says, "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." He will come not for one day, for He says, "I will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (4) "He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities, You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." (5) His presence will cleanse and purify the soul.

God has never employed force to bring men to Jesus. The message of the scriptures is "Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat." (6) "And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come! .. And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (7) The compelling power of God's love draws men and women to Him and they say, "Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip." (8)

1. Revelation 3:20.
2. Desire of Ages, p. 161.
3. 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17.
4. 2 Corinthians 6:16.
5. Micah 7:19.
6. Isaiah 55:1.
7. Revelation 22:17.
8. Psalm 18:35, 36.