To Know and Be KnownSample

HE STANDS AT THE DOOR AND KNOCKS

Jesus proved His love for us by dying on the cross on our behalf. He paid the fine for our sins and suffered in order to restore the relationship between God and man. What more could He have done to prove that He wants you to know Him and He desires a personal relationship with you? What an amazing thought, the God of the whole world wants you! But like any relationship, it goes both ways. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

Jesus stands at the door toyour heart and knocks, but you have to invite Him in. In the same way you wouldn’t want a forced marriage, God doesn’t want forced fellowship. He gives every person the ability to receive Him or reject Him. He is a good God who presented us with free will. Think about it: He didn’t give us the privilege of choice only to demand that we choose Him. By the same token, He didn’t create choice without consequences, so we are responsible for the decisions we make. Each person must decide whether they want to know God and be known by Him, or navigate the many choices in life by themselves.

To those who choose to look to Jesus and put their trust in Him alone to save them, Nahum 1:7 is a beautiful, comforting truth, The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

For those who never take the time to enter into a relationship with Jesus or accept His free gift of salvation, they will get the sad outcome of their decision when they hear Jesus say “…‘I never knew you; depart from Me…” Matthew 7: 21-23

God creates a path for everyone to come to repentance. He gives each one of us many opportunities to look to Him and be saved. It is only those who absolutely refuse to acknowledge their sin and repent who come under His judgment. 

POINT TO PONDER:

Good people don’t go to Heaven. Forgiven people do.