080. REV 3:20. GOD KNOCKING AT THE SINNER’S HEART
Rev_3:20. God Knocking at the Sinner’s Heart
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: 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."’97Rev_3:20
The text was originally addressed to the church at Laodicea; but is capable of a more general application. Let us consider it as the address of Jehovah to all who are favored with the light of revelation and yet remain strangers to salvation.
Notice,
I. The State of Soul supposed.
Closed against God.
This is an obvious and lamentable truth He is not in all the thoughts of the wick ed. They live without God, and without hope in the world. Several things keep the soul closed against God.
1. Ignorance.
They do not know God; nor their need of his divine favor. "Souls perish for lack of knowledge." Minds darkened by the God of this world. Hos_4:6.
2. Reigning sin.
Soul fully possessed. Satan sits on the throne. His captives; servants of sin. Hence, God cannot dwell there so long as this state of things abides. Light no fellowship with darkness; sin, with holiness &c.; Rom_6:17.
3. Love of the world.
Temporal things absorb all the desires of the mind. Visible apparent good, preferred to that which is invisible and eternal. Worldly honor, worldly riches, worldly pleasure, preferred to the honors, and riches, and pleasures which come from God. Jam_4:4; 1Jn_2:15.
4. Inconsideration.
Do not reflect on these things; do not deliberate on consequences; do not ponder over it as the most momentous matter that can engage their attention. "Israel doth not know; my people do not consider;" Deu_32:29; Hag_1:5; Isa_1:3.
5. Unbelief.
The statements of revelation are not believed. Hence, threatenings do not alarm invitations do not allure, promises do not attract; and the gospel produces no saving effect on the heart. Unbelief effectually closes the soul against God. "He could not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief;" Heb_3:19; Mar_6:6.
Notice,
II. Jehovah’s Address to the Soul thus closed against him.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock."
Consider three things:
1. The blessed Being from whom the address proceeds.
"Behold, I." The high and lofty One who inhabiteth eternity; heaven his throne’97earth his footstool’97universe his temple’97nests of heaven his attendants. Self-existent independent, ever blessed; yet he stoops to solicit the possession of the sinner’s heart. Well may heaven and faith be called to behold an act of such condescension and grace.
2. His attitude.
"He stands at the door."
(1) Denoting his patience and long-suffering. While his enemies are enthroned within, the blessed God stands without.
(2) His readiness to depart. Can easily pass on; easily withdraw himself, and leave the soul to infatuation and ruin.
3. The action he performs.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock." He does this,
(1) By his daily bounties; the necessaries and enjoyments of life. Psa_103:2.
(2) By the gracious offers of his gospel. Pardon, peace, and eternal life proclaimed, &c.
(3) By the suggestions of his Spirit. His Spirit convinces men of sin, strives, &c. Joh_16:8.
(4) By the events of his providence. These events abound in the world, and sometimes visit our families and persons with afflictions, bereavements, &c. Hos_5:15.
Notice,
III. The conditional Promise given.
"If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in, and sup with him, and he with me." Observe,
1. The conditions.
(1) "Hear my voice;" so as to understand it, consider it, believe it. And,
(2) "Open the door." Freely, cheerfully, and with all his heart, give me a welcome into his soul, in my own way, and on my own terms, and to effect my own purposes, &c.
2. The promise.
"I will come in," &c. To illuminate the mind’97convince the heart’97regenerate the soul’97to cause all old things to pass away, and to make all things new. "And sup with him, and he with me." Mutual fellowship and communion here; and eternal and uninterrupted enjoyment in the world to come.
Application
Learn, (1) God’s gracious regards to the children of men. He desires their happiness and salvation. (2) The sinner’s responsibility. Life and death before him; God waits to save; his eternal well-being or wo depends on his acceptance or rejection of the offers of mercy. (3) The inevitable consequences of impenitence. God offended’97salvation rejected’97soul lost.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS