He’s Knocking And Waiting
He’s Knocking And Waiting
By Dennis Huebshman
Many years ago, teenagers around the country were introduced to Rock and Roll music, and one person known as “Little Richard” (Richard Wayne Penniman) released a song in 1957 that had the line, “You keep a knockin, but you can’t come in!” It had a real catchy tune and had to do with someone who had cheated on their boy/girl friend and were not allowed to come home. (According to Wikipedia, Little Richard was born in 1932 and is still alive and active today)
Our Lord and Savior used a “knocking” message, however it was quite different than the song. Revelation 3:20, “Listen, I am standing at the door and knocking. If ANYONE hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into his (or her) home and share a meal with him (or her) and he (she) with Me.” (all emphasis is mine) Jesus gave the message at the end of His comments to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3, and before the opening of the Seal Judgments.
There really is no comparison between what Little Richard sang, and what the Lord offered. The first was a “goodbye”; “get lost”; leave me alone” type message and was meant for just one person. Our Savior’s message is, “I’m here for you”; I’m waiting for you”; and “I will give you a special gift if you will allow Me in before it’s too late” message. This one is meant for EVERYONE.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the only book in the Bible that offers a blessing for anyone who “reads aloud” and “hears and obeys” the things written in it. (Revelation 1:3) I have heard people, even pastors, who have said Revelation is just a book of visions and fairy tales and is hard to read and understand and it really isn’t relative to Christians today. I am really concerned about anyone these people may influence. There is no book in the entire Bible that is insignificant, and to dismiss or ignore Revelation is keeping blessings from being given and received.
The invitation by Jesus in Chapter 3 verse 20 is not for any particular group, religion, race or any one individual, but as He said “ANYONE”. There is a painting by William Holman Hunt (1827-1910) which shows the figure of Jesus standing at a door preparing to knock. When asked about the painting, the artist stated he used Revelation 3:20 as his inspiration for it, and purposely left off any means to open the door from the outside. A close look shows there is no handle and whoever is on the inside must open the door to let the Savior in.
This is a powerful message in itself. Our Blessed Savior, Redeemer and God will in no way force anyone to accept Him or His free gift that He offers to everyone. He makes this offer to “anyone who will”, which only eliminates those who reject Him. He knew even before His sacrifice that the majority of the world would reject Him as “Broad is the way leading to destruction, and many will enter that gate. The gate to eternal life is narrow, and few will find their way in, but all who accept Jesus will be allowed to enter.” (Matthew 7:13-14 paraphrased)
By the way, Jesus gave another “knock” message in Matthew 7:7-8; “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. (8) For everyone who asks receives (if it’s within God’s will); the one who seeks will find and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
It should be noted, that Matthew 7:7-8 does not mean God will give us all our “greeds”, but will take care of our needs. Prosperity preachers use this, and some other passages taken out of context to get people believing that our God is Santa Claus. The main message above correlates with Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13 that ALL who call on the name of the Lord will be saved, and Romans 10:9 – All who confess that Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead will be saved.
It is a fact that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18) and ALL of the word in the Bible is God-Inspired. (2 Timothy 3:16) With this in mind, would God allow any writings to be in His “Love Letter” to us if they were false or irrelevant?
The Bible has stood the test of time and all scripture that is taken from the original writings and faithfully translated is to be trusted. There are some works out there that man, being satan-influenced, is tweaking to fit their own definitions in spite of what the Lord plainly states. It’s sort of like a new bible that I once described as a New World Order publication. It’s written in pencil so that if a person doesn’t like what’s there, they can just erase the part that bothers them. If this really existed, I would wager it would definitely turn up in that long line to the Great White Throne Judgment.
When Jesus says, “ANYONE who opens the door”, He is saying ALL can be forgiven of their sins and receive a pardon directly from Him. The only unforgivable sin is stated as “blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29 and Luke 12:10) which means to disavow that Jesus is our Savior or to state that He doesn’t even exist. This is calling the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Trinity) a liar.
It would stand to reason that if someone laid down their life and suffered for us, they could expect to receive some gratitude for it. Also, the only “payment” being asked for is confession of our sins, and yes, all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23); asking Jesus to forgive us, and to believe He is the only Way to the Father (John 14:6). At this point, your eternal soul will experience a re-birth from eternal damnation to eternal life, and the Holy Spirit will come and dwell within you. (John 16:7-15)
Once you have accepted Jesus by Faith that He is your Savior, you are removed from condemnation (Romans 8:1). God does not want anyone to fail and end up in the Lake of Fire (2 Peter 3:9), but He will allow the freedom of us making our own choice. It’s actually difficult for me to believe why any one would not choose Jesus, but the temptations of this world and the influence of the evil one are very powerful forces. Even when someone becomes a child of the Savior, there will be times when we will slip and sin. God has even provided a pathway for our forgiveness in 1 John 1:8-10.
Jesus is ready to prepare your own personal place in Heaven with Him (John 14:2) and is just waiting for you to ask Him for it. He becomes your mediator to the Father because He bought and paid for you with His precious blood. Don’t turn down the free gift He offers as it is the best and most important decision you will ever make.
Shalom – Come Lord Jesus!