AMONG the most beautiful of the many similes used in the Scriptures is that of the Christ knocking at the door of human consciousness, as pictured in Revelation. It is part of what John was commanded to write to the church at Laodicea, and reads, "Behold, 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." This gentle knock is characteristic of Christian Science. It is designed to awaken the sleeper yet not cause him to fear. It admonishes without being aggressive. It is the knock of reason and revelation, but has in it nothing of human willpower or of personal control.
Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, who knew from long experience in healing the sick and reforming the sinner that humanity must be reached through affection and not through fear, advised her followers to "knock instead of push at the door of human hearts" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 303). This should be remembered by all who exemplify the missionary spirit at home and abroad, if they would see the door open to the Christ-idea. Let a knock and not a push open the way for the "still small voice;" let the beauty of holiness, the oil of gladness, and the wine of inspiration accompany our every approach to the frightened sinner and the suffering sick. Neither threats of dogma and anathema, nor the dread of everlasting punishment can unlock the door. Human will-power cannot pry it ajar; dire forebodings cannot win salvation and healing. But the compassionate call to reason, and the glorious revelation of God's ever-presence reflected to the sufferer, will cause the door to open of its own accord.
Still, it is obvious that there must be some receptivity to the truth on the part of the doorkeeper before he will be able to recognize the true voice and willing to admit the truth-bearer. The human consciousness is prepared for the visit of the Christ, Truth, either by Science or by suffering. The latter would seem to be the usual way, but it is well for those engaged in spiritual progress not to recognize suffering as an absolute necessity or to surrender to it as law. To do so would invite suffering and lead to the medieval mental point of view wherein suffering was glorified as if it were an end in itself.
