“These things smith HE that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth. Behold, I have set before thee AN OPEN DOOR, and no man can shut it.” —Revelation 3:7, 87And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:7‑8).
IN the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good” (Eccl. 11:66In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. (Ecclesiastes 11:6)). How frequently does it happen that those who deliver the gospel message, know but little of where the precious seed falls with blessing; and how often are they apt to feel despondent at the apparent lack of fruit resulting from their earnest and unwearying scattering of that golden grain drawn from the treasury stores of God. A striking instance of this rises to my memory in the following incident, which occurred some few years ago in the life of a young person, whom I shall introduce to my readers by her Christian name of Kate.
Of a naturally lively and social disposition, and placed in a position of society which led her into the allurements of the gay and fashionable world, Kate, at an early age, became one of its fondest votaries. Dancing, dramas, and parties of pleasure, together with their inseparable accompaniment, dress, constituted the only attractions life seemed capable of affording her, and beyond this passing life she had then no thought, or if the solemn realities of, another existence were sometimes forced upon her, by the death of an acquaintance, or the faithful preaching of some servant of God, she, speedily strove to forget it amidst the light amusements of the hour.
At one period of her youth she had experienced some serious impressions, with conviction of sin, and of her unfitness to meet God should it please Him to call her into His presence; but of the way into the holiest by the blood of Jesus she knew naught.
While under the influence of these feelings, she resolved to join a class of candidates for confirmation, hoping by this means to attain to a more satisfactory frame of mind; and quite believing, like many others, that by the laying on of hands she would receive some especial grace, or the gift of the Holy Spirit. The teacher to whom Kate opened her mind on this occasion, though a kind and well-meaning friend, was unfortunately not a spiritually-minded person. When she confided her doubts and fears, and sense of unfitness to approach the Lord’s table, it was treated with indifference. She was told for consolation that such feelings and sense of her own unworthiness, though proper, need not cause her any pain; that if she tried to do the best she could, with felt humility, it would be all right with her. God would not expect more from a, young person. How many young souls are thus lost, or thrown back on self and the world, for want of a divinely taught guide to lead them into those green pastures where the water of life flows freely for the thirsty soul, and to point them to the “Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,” for He, “having made peace by the blood of his cross,” is now beseeching us to be reconciled to God through His work, offering us a free, full, and present salvation, without money, and without price.
The day came for the candidates to go up for confirmation, and poor Kate received it as a happy omen, when she, and her fellow-band of young communicants, were sent to a town at some distance from their homes, which happened to be the very parish and church where her baptism had taken place years before. She hoped, when the rite was celebrated, it would prove a second baptism to her―a baptism of the Spirit; for she was at this time really in earnest in her desires for grace. The Primate himself gave the confirmation benediction, and afterward a very solemn address to the young people. He was a devout and earnest man, and much of what he said seemed to make an impression on her at the time; but he spoke to them as already believers, and as those who had been born again. Alas! with how few of them this was really the case. It certainly was not so with Kate! Weeks fled by, and the expected change of heart was not experienced. Where was that spiritual regeneration which she imagined would immediately take place? Old tempers, frailties, coldness, and hardness of heart still bore sway, and she knew not how to appropriate a Saviour’s love, pity, and full atonement to herself. She saw Him not as her Intercessor and Advocate with the Father. There was no personal application of His finished work to her own case; she knew He had died for the sin of the world, but with regard to how that affected herself, all was vagueness and uncertainty. She believed she had to work for her own ultimate salvation, and acceptance before God, and knew not that it had been wrought out by the work of the cross. Self-improvement, in fact trying to bring some good thing out of self, was all she had been taught to look for; and like all others in similar cases, she failed to find peace of conscience, or to attain to the sinless perfection she expected and desired.
In the divine Word we read the solemn query, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean” and then its inspired answer, “Not one” (Job 14:44Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. (Job 14:4)), Again, in the pages of the prophet Isaiah, “We are all as an unclean thing, and our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Further, the apostle Paul adds the New Testament declaration to the Spirit’s teaching of old, when he exclaims, “There is none righteous, no not one, for ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:10-2310As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:10‑23)). But perhaps some reader may say, “You are putting me at a greater distance from God than ever! Though I do not feel sure of being a saved person, still I hope I may do something towards self-improvement or self-abnegation, which will at least merit His approbation, and lead to a more filial relationship between us.”
Friend, you must learn your utter distance from God by nature, and your thoroughly lost condition as a child of fallen Adam, ere you can see the wondrous efficacy and value of the Redeemer’s death and blood shedding, when He became a Substitute for sinners before God. Sweet to the troubled soul comes the divine assurance, “The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us ALL” (Isa. 53:44Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)). Nor is the Lord Jesus alone our Substitute for the penalty of sin, He is also “the LORD our RIGHTEOUSNESS,” “who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)). We find ourselves poor, law-condemned, conscience-stricken beings before God, but He regards us not according to our own deserving’s, He looks upon His Son, our perfect Substitute, and sees Him “the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:44For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4)).
Unable to find contentment or happiness in the human theory of religion (so-called) which she had been taught, Kate, after a few months spent in vain struggles after self-acquired holiness, gave up in despair all hopes of becoming a religious person. A subsequent visit to London, where the fashions and amusements of that gay capital engrossed her thoughts and tastes for some time, finally settled the question to her mind, that it was impossible for her to succeed in keeping her confirmation vows of renunciation of the world. Still she could not at first put aside all concern regarding her soul; the voice of conscience often accused her of being a backslider from the early desires of her heart to serve God. She sometimes went to hear popular and fashionable preachers, but gained no peace of mind; and as time wore on, and the attractions of worldly amusements were presented to her, she yielded to their fascinations, and cast away even all profession of being a Christian.
Four years had passed since the events spoken of, and Kate had become thoroughly careless, if not worse, whilst she regarded her past sensitiveness of soul as early folly. It was summer, and the sultriness of the weather, with other causes, had made her feel debilitated and unwell. Many of her friends had remarked her languid appearance, but she strove to battle with her increasing physical debility by availing herself of every opportunity of indulging in any amusement which would enliven her mind. Amongst her recreations was the pastime of archery. She was a member of an archery club, and frequently joined its weekly meetings, remaining often two or three hours on the ground, sometimes under a hot and sultry sun, returning home fatigued, and suffering from headache. As these reunions were held on Saturdays, she frequently felt too wearied to leave her room the following Sunday morning. After one of these occasions, she was spending Sunday afternoon with some relatives. They asked her to accompany them that evening to hear a preacher who was remarkable for his clear and inviting manner of setting forth the gospel. But she laughingly declined, pleading the oppressiveness of the weather, and begged them not to remain at home for her, as she could amuse herself in their garden until their return.
The garden of her friends’ house led out close to the building where the service was held. It happened at that time to be undergoing some alterations. The workmen had erected a wooden shed outside one of the side entrances, where the doorway had been taken away to enlarge the building; and as the weather was warm, there was nothing but a curtain placed before the gap.
After her friends left her, Kate rambled for a short time in the garden gathering summer fruit; but hearing the strains of a hymn wafted from the building by the evening breeze, she approached first to the garden gate to listen, and finally went to the wooden shed, and sat down inside it, being concealed by the curtain from the listeners within. The hymn ceased, and the preacher commenced by reading out a passage from Revelation 3, “These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth. Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” These beautiful and significant words were addressed by the Lord Jesus to one of the seven churches, and I do not know in what sense the preacher was then applying them; whether he was addressing his hearers on their responsibilities as believers, or if he was directing them in a gospel sense. His manner was warm and earnest, and the sound of his clear impressive voice fell distinctly on the listener’s ear, who, prompted by an unaccountable feeling, sat close to the curtain of this open door listening with attention to the subject from beginning to end. Over and over again he repeated the divine message during the course of his preaching― “He that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth. Behold, I have set before you an OPEN DOOR” dwelling on the solemn responsibilities accruing to the soul which slighted this open door.
As Kate heard thus unexpectedly the Word of God which she had refused to listen to with her friends, that sublime passage, spoken by the Divine Alpha and Omega, as He stood between the seven golden lamps, sank into her heart as with the blows of a mighty hammer, leaving an indelible impression on its till then hard and unbroken surface. Although she would not have admitted it at the time, it haunted her mind for weeks, until the hour came when it returned with vivid force to her conscience as a message from Christ to her own soul. The preacher concluded his address, and gave out a hymn. And now for the first time Kate remembered the peculiar circumstances in which she had placed herself. The congregation inside would be coming out, and some probably through the doorway behind which she sat. She rose hastily at the sound of the parting hymn, and gained the precincts of the garden, where she awaited the return of her relatives.
Not many minutes elapsed before they joined her, and told her she had lost hearing a very stirring address from Mr. W―, which they were sorry for. “Oh! do not think I have had any loss,” she replied; “I heard every word! The preacher was certainly very persuasive, but he would make me low-spirited if I went often to hear him.” She then told them how she had sat in the shed, and been an unseen auditor to the preacher’s message, which she acknowledged had been a very striking one.
Some weeks elapsed, during which Kate’s inability increased. At length, one Saturday afternoon, on returning from the archery ground, she became seriously unwell. Symptoms of fever appeared. The next day she was still worse, and her mind was restless and uneasy. She said she felt a presentiment she was going to have a severe illness, and might never recover. Ere the evening of that Sunday the malady had increased rapidly, and her mind began to wander and grow weak. One thought was uppermost. It was the preacher’s text― “An open door!” She accused herself of having trifled with her immortal interests, and slighted the life-long invitation from the Saviour of an open door of grace and mercy; and now her feverish mind represented to her that perhaps it was about to be closed forever, and she might ere long have to stand before an angry Judge―ONE who, though He openeth, yet also shutteth, and no man openeth. The words seemed burned in letters of fire into her mind, and she repeated them over, with bitter selfupbraidings for her carelessness and contempt of the message when she had sat and listened to it.
Then she had strength to act and think, and avail herself of the blessed privilege of the open door of invitation and welcome; now she tossed on a sickbed, her thoughts incoherent, and nothing but misery in her heart. For several weeks the poor sufferer lay, and though there were intervals when exhausted nature sank into apathy and apparent calmness, still deep distress about eternal things haunted her feverish mind. At one moment she fancied herself an exile from light and mercy―a tightly shut and never-again-to-be-opened door between her and the bleeding Christ of Calvary, with the bitter and fearful consciousness that the fault was only her own, the rejection not Christ’s, but hers. Then for “moments a softened feeling stole over her, and some text breathing mercy seemed to ring in her ears. Soon in God’s goodness the malady abated, but the deep convictions awakened during this illness did not pass away. The words which bad echoed in her memory during illness as a knell of despair now seemed glowing with promise and mercy. She perused frequently the third chapter of Revelation, and as we are told, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)), she found what seemed peculiarly applicable to her own case in its concluding verses, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent.”
She saw the Lord’s hand of love in her late illness and distress of mind—a chastening not grievous, but gracious; and that message, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him, and will sup with him, and he with me,” breathed hope, pardon, and beseeching love to her awakened soul. True, these messages in their original sense were directed to an assembly of professing Christians who had grown cold and lax. Still the Holy Spirit can use His Word how and when He thinks fit―all are not converted in the same way or by the same gospel words. “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth: so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The Bright and Morning Star Himself was pleased to dispel the clouds and darkness of Kate’s mind, and meet her case, with the sequel to that beautiful address, which fell on her heart and conscience the evening she listened outside that memorable open door.
Reader! ere I lay down my pen, let me press upon you the dread consequences of leaving for a sick-room or a dying bed the immense matter of your soul’s salvation. “What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:3636For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36).) The delirium of fever, the apathy of sinking nature, are the weary and pain-racked couch, are too often neither the times nor places where we are capable of seeking pardon for a life of careless neglect, or open aversion to the gospel’s pleadings of mercy. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation!” The only promise of pardon Scripture authorizes us to give is a present one. “TO-DAY!” “Now!” “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Psa. 95:77For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, (Psalm 95:7); Heb. 3:77Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (Hebrews 3:7)). Free, and broad, and full is the invitation Jesus gives us: “I AM THE DOOR; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:7-97Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:7‑9)). And again, from the glory of heaven itself comes His divine Word, spoken on that wondrous Lord’s day in Patmos, “Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.”
“Behold the Saviour at the door!
He gently knocks―has knocked before;
Has waited long―is waiting still;
You use no other friend so ill.
Open the door, He’ll enter in,
And sup with you, and you with Him.”
“K”