Very early this morning while I was still in bed, my wife texted me from the living room and said "someone is knocking on the front door!" My wife and I have an agreement that she does not answer the door if she isn't expecting someone to come over. So, I got up and went to the living room and sure enough there was a "knock, knock, knock," at our front door. I always like to be cautious so instead of opening the front door, I went around to the side door and walked around the house to the front. There standing on our front porch was a very angry robin. She had seen her own reflection on our front storm door and was trying to protect her young ones that were in a nest in a bush beside the porch. When she saw me, she darted off toward the bush in full parental protection mode. I chuckled and went back into the house.
"Who was it," my wife asked? "Just a bird," I replied. We both laughed about it for a while but then we heard it again; "knock, knock, knock, knock," really persistent this time. I walked over and flung the door open scaring the bird off the porch. Two minutes later there she was again; "knock, knock, knock." We both knew that this bird was not going to quit knocking. So, I devised a plan. I printed out a big scary eyeball picture on a piece of paper and taped it to the bottom of the door thinking that would surely make the bird go away. Nope, a minute later she was back, "knock, knock, knock," madder than ever.
I was really getting steamed now. "I think I'll just get my pellet gun and shoot that bird," I exclaimed! "No, you can't do that," my wife said, "you're not supposed to shoot robins." Well, of course I knew that but come on, would anyone really blame me? So, I just walked away and let the bird continue to knock on our door. After some time, I got used to the knocking and learned to ignore it and it didn't really bother me anymore. Eventually the knocking stopped completely.
Then it all of a sudden hit me, you know, that bird is a whole lot like Jesus. Now stop laughing at me and give me a chance to prove it.
In the very last Book of the Bible in Revelation 3:20, we find Jesus talking to the Church at Laodicea, you know, that "lukewarm" Church. After he called them out for their Luke warmness, he said this: "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.”
Now, that robin didn't want to come in and sup with us (at least I don't think she did) but I treated that bird the same way many people treat Jesus when he comes knocking on their heart's door.
1. They see Him as an unwanted stranger.
2. They try to think of easy ways to get rid of him.
3. They try to use harsh means to get rid of him.
4. They finally just get used to it and it doesn't bother them anymore and they ignore him and he eventually just goes away.
How sad to think of the missed opportunities to sup with Jesus, simply because we refused to open the door. One thing that I've learned over the years is that He doesn't force the door, or kick the door open, he simply knocks and desires for you to let him in.
What about you? How long will you continue to refuse Him? Is he just an unwanted stranger to you? The truth is Jesus is our only way to Heaven. He is the One that was sent by God to pay our sin debt and make a way for us to live forever. Will you continue to refuse him? Don't keep ignoring him, let him into your heart while he is still knocking. The second worst sound you will ever hear is deathly silence, the first worst sound will be your own voice weeping from hell.
Romans 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. |
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