“Help! Help! Somebody, help me!”
Awakening out of a deep sleep, I suddenly sat straight up, eyes wide open, trying to clear my mind. Where was I?
“Help, oh please, somebody help me!” I heard again. No, I was not dreaming. My heart was pounding as I climbed out of bed. If only my husband were home. He always knew just what to do. The hands of the clock pointed to 3:15 a.m. I ran quickly downstairs. Did I hear knocking at the back door?
If only I were very brave, I would open the door and call, “What do you need?” Now the knocking was at the front door. I hurried through the kitchen and rushed to the front door. The frantic crying continued—“Oh, please help me... let me in!”
I parted the curtains and strained to see out into the darkness. Yes, there was someone on the porch. Switching on the light, I found myself peering into the eyes of a strange woman.
“Please let me in,” was her distressed plea.
“W.. w.. what happened?” I stammered through the door.
“My car went off the road and I’m hurt.”
On this lonely country road, ten miles from town, houses are far apart. She must have walked some distance. “I’ll call the sheriff’s office. They will be able to help you,” I said.
“No, don’t do that,” she cried.
I still did not open the door. Running to the telephone, I was soon talking to the sheriff who said he’d send someone right out. He added that if I were alone, not to open the door, and to stay on the line until the patrol car arrived. This was not easy as she continually pleaded, “Oh, please let me in... I’m so cold... let me call my husband.”
The sheriff said, “Ask her for her husband’s telephone number, and we’ll put the call through for her, but do not hang up your receiver.” She gave a number through tight, white lips which I repeated to them. The sheriff used another telephone in his office to call the number she had given me.
They told her husband about the accident and where his wife was. He said he was only about five miles away and would come right over. When I heard they lived in the area, I quickly went and unlocked the door. The poor woman staggered in.
Do you realize someone is knocking at your door? This is no ordinary person who says in Revelation 3:2020Behold, 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), “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.”
Perhaps you feel you have good reason for not opening your heart’s door to the Lord Jesus Christ... you are too busy right now to think about these things. Maybe you are afraid to open the door... are there things in your life that you feel He would not approve of? Perhaps you do not recognize His voice... He speaks in a still, small voice—sometimes while we’re in bed, in the quiet hours of the night. Or, sometimes He speaks through an incident that makes us feel our need for help. If we ignore His small voice He may have to speak louder—by a tragedy or accident that makes us realize we are completely helpless. Even then we are not left without hope. He tells us in Psalms 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15), “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee.”
The patrolmen arrived and then called for the paramedics. The woman’s arm was broken in five places. She was in a state of shock, and needed to be taken to the hospital for immediate treatment. I was sorry I had not opened the door for her right away. Poor thing, in such need of help, yet the door stayed shut.
Whether you realize it or not, your need is even greater—because we are at the very door of eternity. You have an important decision to make. Are you going to choose to go to heaven, or hell? If the Lord Jesus came today do you realize that the door to heaven would be closed forever? “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are.” Luke 13:2525When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:25).
ML-06/05/1983