In 1976, Paul McCartney and his band, Wings, performed his song, Let ’Em In. It was a song about his extended family, actual and symbolic. The refrain ran: Someone’s knocking at the door, Somebody’s ringin’ the bell, Do me a favor, open the door, And let ’em in. Yeah, yeah.
Holman Hunt was the most idolized painter of 19th century England, called the greatest Protestant painter ever. His most famous painting, Light of the World, shows Christ standing with a lantern before a closed door. Engraved beneath the painting are the words: “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in....” People stood in awe before the painting. Conversions were reported. The painting went on a world tour. The praise for Hunt rolled in.
But this same Holman Hunt was often found in brothels where he would indulge one of his favorite pastimes—beating up women. He forced his wife to pose for him even when pregnancy left her too weak to stand. After she died in childbirth, he married her sister and abused her from day one. Hunt could paint Jesus knocking at the door, but himself never opened that door.
Why does Jesus knock? Because God is the seeker of the human soul. Consider theologian C.S. Lewis who became an atheist at the age of 13 and remained so until he was 31. Influenced by friend J.R.R. Tolkien, and by the book The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton, he rediscovered Christianity. He fought greatly up to the moment of his conversion and described his struggle in these words: “You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. At least the prodigal son went home of his own accord. But who can duly adore the love of a God who will usher someone into his kingdom who is resisting, fighting, and darting his eyes in every direction for a way of escape?”
Why does Jesus stand at the door knocking? Because God wants to come into our hearts and lives. God wants to be invited in. And what happens if the door is opened? Ah, that’s the rub, isn’t it? We have never been sure. Has he come for the rent or to throw us out? Has he come to preach or come for the talents we owe? Has he come to judge a sparse meal or bring criticism of an unkempt house? No. “If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and have dinner with you, —quality time, holy time, life-changing time.” That is what is needed in the life of each of us; not a picture of Christ knocking at a door; but Jesus himself sitting at our table, sharing our lives, filling our hearts, transforming our existence. The lyrics of Lelia Morris ring as our invitation: If you are tired of the load of your sin, Let Jesus come into your heart; If you desire a new life to begin, Let Jesus come into your heart.
Just now, your doubtings give o’er; Just now, reject Him no more; Just now, throw open the door; Let Jesus come into your heart. Yeah, yeah.
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