The Door
"So Jesus again said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.'" John 10:7-9
"It seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven as proof that what is preached is true; and it is foolish to the Gentiles because they believe only what agrees with their philosophy and seems wise to them. So when we preach about Christ dying to save them, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power of God to save them; Christ himself is the center of God’s wise plan for their salvation." 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
If we seek Jesus first, above everything, we will enter the door that leads to life—now and forever.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from'" (Luke 13:24-25).
Doors are important in God's Kingdom.
Author and noted psychiatrist George G. Ritchie who wrote Return From Tomorrow, an account of his clinically-confirmed death experience, writes, "Death is nothing more than a doorway, something you walk through."
Scripture talks about doors in many different ways and in many different places. Jesus tells us in the passage above that He is the door. He goes on to tell us that anyone who enters by Him will be saved and go in and out, finding pasture. But there is a distinction to be made here: seeking the door is not the same as seeking Jesus.
Do you know what I mean?
Many in Jesus day sought the miracles He performed, but they didn't seek Him. Today, many seek Heaven, but not the One who leads us to this place, Who is this place, Jesus.
In the Holy Bible we find that Jesus addressed the issue several times. In John 6:26 we read, "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.'" And in Luke 11:29, "When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, 'This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.'"
The door to Heaven is not the Good News message.
Jesus is.
"I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name" (Revelation 3:8).
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).
Goodnight, Runners.
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