WHEN HE KNOCKS, I WILL ANSWER

Preamble

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.

HERE STANDS, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS - THIS MESSAGE THAT IS PACKED WITH A HOLY REQUEST . . . PACKED WITH A HUMBLE INVITATION . . . AND PACKED WITH A GLORIOUS PROMISE.

OF COURSE, I’LL BRING INTO FOCUS THE METAPHORICAL ASPECT OF THIS MESSAGE - THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN DOOR - A DOOR WHOSE HANDLE OR DOOR KNOB IS NOT ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT ON THE INSIDE.

GOING FURTHER INTO THIS WONDERFUL METAPHOR, THIS DOOR THAT WE SPEAK OF IS THE DOOR TO OUR HEARTS. IT IS THE DOOR TO THE CENTER OF OUR MORALITY. THE DOOR TO THE CENTER OF WHAT CAUSES US TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED. IT IS THE DOOR TO THE VERY HEART OF OUR FAITH - OUR FAITH IN THE 2ND COMING OF CHRIST. ULTIMATELY, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS OF PREPARATION FOR THE 2ND COMING OF OUR CHRIST JESUS - EVEN AS WE CELEBRATE THE EVENT OF HIS 1ST COMING. OUR SCRIPTURE MESSAGE TELLS US THAT IF WE ARE TO BE PREPARED, THEN WE MUST BE ABOUT