Article December 21, 1912 Issue

"TO HIM THAT KNOCKETH"

EMMA C. MERRELL

It happened one day that a little boy living near by was sent with a written message to his grandma who lives just around the corner. From my window I watched the little fellow set out on what was doubtless to him an important mission, and I was interested to see how he would make out with it. Carefully turning the corner, he made straight for the right house, passed on through the gate and up to the door, and there he planted his little figure, close up against the door.

It did not seem to occur to the child that in order to make the occupant within know he was there he must needs show some sign of his presence. There he waited, never moving from his post, for some considerable time, until at last he began to look about him, apparently in utter astonishment and disappointment that no one should come and open the door to him. One could not help feeling sorry for the boy. He held the note in his hand securely enough, he had not turned out of his way in his search for the house, and he was playing the rest of his little part so well, but he failed to comply with the one condition which would have insured him an answer; namely, to knock! This little incident quickly set my thought to work, and it was the means of bringing home to me some useful lessons; hence I venture to pass it on, in the hope that it may serve to strengthen the faith or endeavor of another.

Jesus said, "To him that knocketh it shall be opened." Never before did I realize and appreciate the importance of obedience to the divine command to "knock," as at the present. Never had the force of these words of our Master appealed to me in the light in which they now did. It would almost seem that our entrance, our reception, into the kingdom of heaven is conditional, and that the condition is not altogether as in the old way of thinking we had evidently supposed by our pleadings with God, but that it likewise rests with us to do our part. God, good, is unchangeable, otherwise He could not be God; in order, then, to come in touch with the divine nature, it stands to reason there must needs be some activity—some exercise of faith from the individual. I knew the grandma's attitude toward her little grandson to be such that had he but given the usual signal, and she had recognized his baby knock, it would have brought her quickly to the door. And if as human beings this loving recognition can be so naturally and easily secured, how much more may we expect to receive a quick and ready response to our call from our heavenly Father, who is Love always. If then it is our desire to be heard of Him, it is reasonable to suppose that we shall be found knocking.

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