If Jonathan’s parents had not already been certain that the Bible verse, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), was true, it would have been hard to believe that it was true about Jonathan. He had a quick smile and quietly and willingly obeyed his parents and teachers. He kept up with his schoolwork and was always ready to listen and to learn. His parents always looked forward with interest to attending his “Open House Nights” at school. His teacher’s praise was always glowing, and even in the background they could hear the whisperings of his classmates saying, “Look! there’s Jonathan’s parents.”
Jonathan was still in grade school when the truth of Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) became quite clear. All the children in the family had been called in for dinner. They seemed to file in more quietly than usual that night. Finally, one little voice said, “Jonathan says he’s not ready to come in yet.” His mother, not really believing, answered, “He didn’t say that.” She was remembering that Jonathan always obeyed her. “Yes,” another brother added solemnly, “he said he was going to stay out and play for a while.”
“Go out and tell him to come in right now,” Jonathan’s mother ordered one of the brothers.
On his return, the report was the same: “He said he’s not ready to come in yet.” Another brother was sent out and came back in with the same report. By this time Jonathan’s mother had made up her mind. Without another word she went to the front door and securely locked it. Everyone else, in a kind of strange hush, went in and washed for dinner.
It was evening and Jonathan realized it was beginning to get colder outside. Besides, he found it really wasn’t that much fun playing out there all alone, so after a short while he decided to come in. However, he had not expected to find a locked door. That had never happened before in their family. As he stood out there on the porch, he thought, This must mean that I get no supper tonight and that I have to sleep outside! But then he realized there was one last hope. His father had not come home yet. Perhaps he could slide in the door with Dad.
And sure enough, just then he saw his father’s car drive up. However, as soon as his father reached the porch he asked Jonathan what he was doing standing out there in the cold.
When Jonathan told his father he had been locked out, his father brought him in the house to find out the details. Jonathan said years later, “My father talked it over with my mother, and they agreed on a different punishment. So I was able to have supper that night and sleep in a warm bed.”
This incident is a reminder to us of what is happening to people every day. In the Bible, God is calling each person to come in and have a feast with Him. But men and women, just like children, want to stay outside and play, and come in when they feel like it. Even though God keeps sending them messengers to say, “All things are ready: Come” (Matthew 22:44Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. (Matthew 22:4)), many still refuse. This is very sad, because they forget a day is coming when the door to heaven will be locked forever. Then God will say, “Depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity [sin].” Luke 13:2727But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (Luke 13:27). However, God does not want this to happen. In fact, Christ died to bear our sins in His own body on the tree, so that we could accept Him as our “open door” to heaven, without any cost to ourselves. It is no wonder, then, that a day is coming when He must say to everyone who has refused to come in, “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded [listened]... I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.” Proverbs 1:24,2624Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; (Proverbs 1:24)
26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; (Proverbs 1:26). So He pleads now, while there is hope “Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.” Proverbs 1:2323Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (Proverbs 1:23). “Do not My words do good to him that walketh uprightly?” Micah 2:77O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? (Micah 2:7).
Jonathan had someone to plead for him his father. But even Christ’s Father will not be able to plead for you if you continue to refuse His call.
All of Jonathan’s good behavior before that day he refused to come inside could not save him from his needed punishment for not obeying his parents. And neither can the “good works” of men get them through the locked door of heaven if they refuse God’s way of salvation through Christ who said, “I am the door: by Me if any man [woman or child] enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9). Today is the day of salvation; God does not promise us salvation tomorrow. The hymn says, Come to the Saviour, Make no delay, Jesus is waiting, Come while you may.
Will you come in while the door is still unlocked?
ML-02/16/1992