<TITLE>04. Par 13-16</TITLE>L-13 Let's read His Word. I just get to shouting after while, 'cause... Let us turn in the Book of the Revelation for a subject tonight. In the 3rd chapter we shall read. In Revelations 3, let's begin about the 17th verse, Revelations 3:17:
 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased in goods... have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched... miserable... poor... blind, and naked:
 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich... white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that thy shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore; and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: and 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.

L-14 This is rather an unusual scene that we're reading about. It's someone standing at a door, knocking. And knocking at a door is not unusual, because plenty of people knock at doors. But Jesus is speaking here of Him knocking at a door.
And the reason that someone knocks on a door, they're trying to--to speak to someone inside. They're trying to make a way to enter in to talk, or to bring something to someone, or something like that: gaining access to the inside, and that's why they knock at the door.

L-15 I just can't call to memory now the--the artist's name that painted that famous picture. I think he was a Greek, that spent about a lifetime a painting that famous picture of Jesus knocking at the door.
And when all great pictures that... Before they can be hung in the hall of fame, they have to pass the critics.
That reminds me of the Church. Before God can ever glorify His Church, She has to go down through that hall of critics. Then someday, if She'll stand real clean and clear before God, God will take Her out of this world one day and hang Her in a hall of fame yonder. That's the hour we're looking for. So hold fast till He comes. Let the critics say what they wish to, but you hold to God's unchanging hand and live clean, pure before Him.

L-16 And as this great picture, that I was speaking of, was before the critics, there was one great critic walked up to the--the artist, and said... called him by name, and he said, "You have a most unusual picture of our Lord. I think that the profile is perfect. And I think that Him coming by night with the lantern in His hand, that it speaks of Him coming to us in our darkness in the night. I think that's all wonderful. And then Him standing, and His expression on His face anxiously waiting to see if someone will respond to the knock." Said, "I think all that is very striking, but there's one thing," he said, "sir, that you forgot in your picture: that is, no matter how much He would knock, you haven't got any latch for Him to go in at."
"Oh," said the artist, "I painted it thus. You see, He's knocking at the door of a heart, and the latch is on the inside. Only you can open to Him. He can knock, but you have to open."
That is true. You are the only one that can open up your heart's door. Jesus may knock, but you have to open.


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