Light of the world Thursday, June 21, 2007

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: 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. Revelation 3:20

The Light of the World, painted by William Holman Hunt (1827-1910), is one of the world’s most famous pieces of religious art. The painting has toured nation after nation, gaining both praise and criticism.

Eventually, the acclaimed painting came to the Hall of Critics, where some of the most respected art critics in the world would identify every fault. Towards the end of the review, one of the critics pointed out a very “obvious” flaw; the door upon which Christ was knocking had no latch. How could He enter without a latch to open the door?

The artist replied: "It is the door of the human heart, and that can only be opened from the inside." The “flaw” that was once so obvious made this painting a true work of art. The lesson of this painting is visible every day in this world. Jesus Christ knocks at the door of our souls, and He is left out in the cold.

Brother Branham said that the most pathetic story in the Bible is found in the Book of Revelation.

"I stand at the door and knock." After being pushed out or ousted, then trying to get back in, crawls back and knocks at the door. This is the most striking record in the New Testament. I think there's nothing could be any more sadder than this, to see the Saviour of the world took out of His own church, the Laodicean age. After He done told them what they had did, their richness and everything, and what they were, and how they were lukewarm and so forth, and they--they had--they... He didn't have to spue them out; they'd spued Him out. And here, with all of that, still knocking at the door, trying to get back in. What for? To give them Eternal Life.64-1211E

As Christians we should ask ourselves, “Is the door to my heart open to the Lord Jesus? Have I put Him out of my heart? Is He standing out in the cold, knocking?”