“A TALE OF TWO KNOCKS: AN INVITATION TO RELATIONSHIP”

By Temeka Atkinson

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “ (Matthew 7:7-8)

“’For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Hello fellow Servants of Christ, I want to share some things to remind us how much God desires to be in relationship with us (humanity). He pursues us diligently but lovingly for this purpose.

In the Book of Genesis we learn that from the beginning of the creation of the heavens, earth, and every created thing, God has desired to be in relationship with humans. He said, “’Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’” (Genesis 1:26a), and He deemed His creation “good.” God enjoyed the fellowship that He had with Adam in the Garden of Eden which He created for Adam to thrive in. He made Adam and his suitable helper and mate Eve; and they both enjoyed a beautiful relationship of fellowship and love with God in the garden.

God gave His children, Adam and Eve, free will to make choices. He also gave them helpful boundaries to keep them safe because He loved them and wanted a pure connection based on mutual love. He gave them both access to everything in their domain, except for one particular tree that would cause them harm.

The Bible explains that things took a wrong turn when Eve was deceived by Satan, and she and Adam both disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree. Unfortunately, because of their disobedience sin entered the earth and through sin: death, disease, sickness, and every form of wickedness came in. Adam and Eve (our human forebearers) were then cast out of the Garden and away from the presence of God. Because of their disobedience, they had forfeited the right to be in an intimate relationship and fellowship with the only true, living God. In the Bible, the separation was described as ‘death’ even though they were both still physically living. Since they were now spiritually separated from God, their living Source—they were considered dead in spirit.

After the fall of mankind, Adam and Eve who had lost their position in Eden began to be fruitful and multiply. They had sons Cain and Abel that they raised with the knowledge of God and a sacrificial relationship towards Him. Due to jealousy of God’s acceptance of Abel’s offering and rejection of his, Cain murdered his brother Abel. He then became a wanderer in the earth after God’s judgment against his actions. Even so, God blessed the original couple with a third son, Seth, and through Seth’s relationship with God—men in the earth began to truly call on the name of the Lord again.

Throughout scripture, you see God calling forth humans to be a part of His eternal plan to rescue mankind from sin, such as Abraham, the Father of our faith; and Moses, the bringer of the Law of God (Ten commandments). He also called forth earthly kings after His own heart, such as David, and prophets that were committed to Him such as Elijah.

I’m so glad that God was still watching over the affairs of men and intervening as part of His perfect will. He did not give up on mankind and always had a plan to restore our relationship with Him. He did not want us separated from Him. Instead, He desires relationship and fellowship in the earth and ultimately in Heaven with us. In Hebrews Chapter 10, Jesus says that God the Father prepared a body for Him. He was ordained before the foundation of the world to be born in the earth; to take on human flesh, be tempted and challenged as a human, but to still resist all temptation and sin so that He could become our Kinsman Redeemer.

The Bible tells us in First Corinthians Chapter Fifteen that there was a ‘second Adam’ who was very different from the first one that came into the earth. He stood against the temptations and wiles of the deceiver who had ensnared the first Adam and caused the fall of mankind. This ‘second’ Adam did not fall or fail in His assignment. He took on the penalty of sin (death) for the whole human race when He died on the cross for us. He gave His perfect, sinless life as a final sacrifice to God so that through His shed blood all of mankind had the opportunity to be reconciled back to God. He is the Mediator of the New covenant and the only way back for mankind into right relationship with God. This Man is called Jesus and His birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection is thoroughly detailed in the Holy scriptures of God.

How many of us have found ourselves feeling far away from God at some points during our Christian walk?

Whether we drift away due to worldly pleasures, distractions and cares of this world; deception from the enemy, or fleeing from pain and abuse; the end result is the same…we are now vulnerable and in a place of weakness because we are separated from our Source, Sustainer, Creator, Maker, and the One who loves, cares and provides for us at all times, in all ways.

Thanks be to God that He is always waiting with open arms for us to return to Him. The parable regarding the prodigal son in the Gospel of Luke Chapter Fifteen is a natural example of how God sees us in spiritual realms when we drift or run away from Him. No matter what has happened or how long we have been back out there in the world far from God; He is always waiting to welcome us back home and to heap holy ‘garments’ onto us such as: love, perfect peace, health, sound mindedness, protection, and provision.

Jesus constantly knocks on the doors of our hearts (believer and unbeliever). Hearts that are burdened, hardened and weary. There is so much distraction, busyness, confusion, pain and despair in the world. There is also a lot of love, positivity, holiness and miracles that are happening everyday as well. The media doesn’t always focus on the good things, but they are there.

The Bible talks of two knocks, one where Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts, and we can answer “Yes” to His invitation of salvation; or if we knock at the door to Heaven and ask Jesus to save us and accept us as His own; He always answers “Yes!” Jesus will not turn any person away. He is waiting for us to acknowledge in our hearts that we are sinners in need of a Savior and to also confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is LORD. This is all done to the glory of the Father.

There is a day coming where all of God’s enemies will be defeated, including Death. Currently, the Holy Spirit is in the earth beseeching men and women, girls and boys to come to God and accept the free gift of salvation. The price has already been paid by our Kinsman Redeemer, but we have to accept it in order to receive it (salvation).

• This is the part that requires us to be humble enough to recognize that we can’t save ourselves.
• We have to realize that there is a limit on what money, the right connections, the right neighborhoods and education can accomplish.
• We aren’t smart enough to save ourselves. There is a limit to human intelligence–it can only go so far.
• However, when we acknowledge that we don’t have all of the answers; when we are too tired of sinning and chasing the ‘fool’s gold’ that the world holds out as being so valuable; we will then leave ourselves open to a relationship with the God who can do all things. There is nothing too hard for Him. The earth is His, everything in it, and all who dwell in it belong to Him.

The gift of salvation is a standing invitation from God to humanity. As long as you have breath in your body, you have an opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life. He is the only One who can transform you from a sinner into a saint and save you from the penalty of sin which will be eternal separation from God.

Scriptures for Reflection

Psalms 139:7-12

Matthew 11:28-30

John 14:6

John 17:20-21

Romans 5:8

Romans 10:9-10

2 Peter 3:9

Dear Reader—

I pray this blog has been encouraging. Please know that the intention of this blog is to encourage you as we walk out our Christian faith together. It is not intended to replace God’s Holy Word, neither could it ever do so. The Bible is the inspired Word of God lovingly given to us to teach, convict, correct, and instruct us in righteousness. God’s Word is living, active, and powerful. It will never pass away.

As your sister in Christ, I pray God’s continued blessings and covering over you and your family. May He strengthen you and give you peace as you journey.

Always His,

Temeka