Message Six

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
John 1:12

When George the Fifth was crowned king, his eldest son went to an old castle to be received as Prince of Wales. Accompanied by David Lloyd George he approached the castle door. It was bolted. He knocked, but there was no answer. All was quiet within. He knocked again, but there was no answer. He knocked the third time. The bolt was drawn, the door was opened, and he was given a glorious reception. The Prince had come to his own, and his own received him with rejoicing. It wasn't that way with the Prince of Peace. The Bible says, "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not."

Let's look at the choice. There are some things you'll never do, some things you can't do, but there's one thing you must do. Whether you like it or not, you must take sides for, or against Christ. It's written in John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." You must either receive Christ or reject Him. And while you're choosing, you're in one of the choices. Until you believe, you're condemned. The Bible says, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." "Oh," but you say, "I'm going to be neutral." You can't. Why? The Lord won't let you. He comes to you, saying, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in." There are only two things you can do about a knock. You can open the door, or you can leave it closed. To leave the door closed, is to keep out Christ. "But," you say, "suppose I want the Lord to leave me alone." If you really want Him to leave you alone, He will. The granddaughter of Aaron Burr received the Lord Jesus as her Savior. But he refused, telling her that when he was a young man he went to a meeting and rejected the Lord, saying, "God, if You don't bother me, I'll never bother You." "Honey," he said, "God kept His part of the bargain. He's never bothered me. Now it's too late."

Let's look at the capability. You can make the choice, and you can become a Christian. You don't become a Christian by attainment but by acceptance. The Bible says, "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." You don't become a Christian by doing chores but by coming to Christ. He said, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." You don't become a Christian by giving but by grace. The Bible says, "By grace are ye saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." "Let me think it over," you say. Suppose you were drowning, and I threw you a rope, crying, "Take it. I'll save you." While you're deciding what to do, you're not taking it, and you're perishing. Just so, while you're deciding whether to receive Christ, you're not receiving Him, and you're perishing. One day I sang and spoke at a prison. As I went to the pianist to give him my music I was amazed to find that he once played in my dance band. He said, "When you became a Christian, you asked me to become one. I said, 'Let me think it over.' While thinking it over I went deeper into sin. Now you're a preacher and I'm a prisoner." But that day he received Jesus.

Let's look at the consequences. The Bible says, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." The word "received" means "welcomed." As you'd welcome a cherished friend into your home, so welcome Christ into your heart. On seeing a picture of Christ at the door, a boy asked his father, "Who's that man?" "Jesus," he answered. "Why's He knocking?" "Because," said the father, "He wants to come in." "Daddy," he asked, "why don't they let Him in?" That touched him deeply. Slipping away from his son, he dropped to his knees, saying, "Lord Jesus, it's at the door of my heart that You're knocking. Forgive me for keeping You waiting for so many years. I open the door. Please come in." Jesus came in. Won't you, just now, let Jesus come into your heart?

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.