By Russell DeLong

      Scripture: Revelation 3: 20

      A citadel is a fortress or a stronghold. It is a place of security, safety, refuge, and strength.

      It also may be situated on a high plateau and thus be doubly safe from attack and also a superior spot for vision to spot enemy advances. Sometimes in past wars moats, water-filled trenches, were dug around a castle or citadel in order to increase its safety from attack. In brief, a citadel was a place of safety.

      When God created man in His own image He gave him a citadel, a place of security and

      safety. Man is sovereign. He is autonomous, self-directing. Man's will is the guard to his citadel. No person or thing can make man act. He alone chooses his course. It is true that sheer physical power can push a man's body about and even throw him into jail. But no power in earth, heaven, or hell can invade man's soul and force his will. His personal citadel is impenetrable. His moral privacy is guaranteed. Man is free to open or close the door of his being.

      The old Stoics had a very interesting and true motto which read:

      I rest assured that nothing can harm me unless I myself open the door to the enemy.

      In essence, this means that neither good nor bad can enter my soul unless I myself open the door and welcome it. With this I agree, and I am convinced that such a truth is sound Biblically, philosophically, psychologically, and morally.

      If good or evil can get within me without my will, then I cannot be held accountable and

      responsible for what I am morally and spiritually. I must be the guard, the monitor, the agent, who says, "Come in, or, Stay out." Otherwise I am not responsible for what I am.

      I think I can hear somebody murmur, "Do you mean to say that no one can do me any harm or do me any good?" That is just exactly what I mean. But let me add this word of explanation -- certainly people can steal my money, blackguard my name, ruin my reputation, and slap my face or throw me into jail. Likewise they can do good things for me. But remember, my name, my reputation, my money, or even my body are not me. My attitude toward these external acts and things determines whether they do me good or bad, make me better or bitter, richer or poorer, stronger or weaker. "Prison bars do not a prison make." My body may be enslaved but my soul never -- unless I enslave myself.

      What a sobering, awesome, tremendous truth! I am unique, individual, free, private,

      sovereign, autonomous. Neither men nor devils can transgress the citadel of my soul.

      In the New Testament there are instances of persons possessed of devils. One had seven

      demons cast out. It would destroy my conception of God's justice and nullify the basic principle of this existence, freedom, if I had to believe that any person could be overrun by either men or devils without consent. No! It could not be.

      But on the other hand, good cannot enter my self unless I welcome it. And now a step

      further -- and I take it reverently -- even God, the Holy Spirit, cannot and will not possess my soul unless I open the door and bid Him enter.

      Man is a citadel. He alone decides what comes in or goes out. And he is responsible for

      both incoming and outgoing traffic, be it good or evil, God or Satan.

      I am what I permit to come to me. If I am evil it is because I choose evil and permit it to

      come into my private citadel. If I am good it is because I permit good and God to come into my soul. I stand at the door. Nothing gets in without my knowledge and personal approval.

      What I am I made. If I am morally good and spiritually righteous, it is because I chose

      Christ and He came into my citadel and cleansed my heart. If I am evil and corrupt, it is because I chose sin and Satan and kept Christ out.

      I am the captain of my soul, the governor of my citadel, the keeper of my heart, the ruler of my spirit.

      So the whole import of this sermon is wrapped up in this question: What and whom do you permit entrance to your private citadel?

      In closing, listen to this scripture (Rev. 3: 20). God says:

      "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."

      My last day in London, on my recent world tour, I went to St. Paul's Cathedral. There I saw Holman Hunt's famous masterpiece, "The Light of the World." I stood awed and thrilled at its gorgeous beauty and colossal meaning. There stands Christ knocking at a door. He is colorfully arrayed in the robes of Prophet, Priest, and King. He wears the white robe, signifying the power of the Spirit; the jeweled robe with breastplate, indicating sacerdotal investiture; and on His head is a crown of soft, growing thorns with leaves for the healing of the nations. He holds a lantern, for it is night when He approaches. The door is large and heavy and fast-barred. It has never been opened. The nails are rusty. Tendrils of ivy climb up, nearly covering it. Christ knocks.

      When Holman Hunt first exhibited this masterpiece, the critics studied it carefully and

      finally one of them exclaimed,

      "There is a great omission!"

      "What is it?" Mr. Hunt asked.

      The critic replied, "You forgot to paint a knob or latch on the door."

      "But," said M the door of the human heart. There is no latch or knob on the outside. If it is ever opened it must be

      from the inside."

      That's it!

      Christ will knock. He will not break the door down. He will not force His way in.

      If He comes in, you must lift the latch, open the door, and bid Him enter.

      The citadel of your soul is yours. You can welcome Him or reject Him.