Driving home after a big disappointment I turned on 17th and GOD directed my eyes to a door that got me laughing. Isn’t that just like GOD delighting in cheering us up? I went back by so I could take this picture.
Doors are important for each of us. Car doors can keep us safe when we are barreling down the highway at 75 miles an hour or turning a corner a bit too sharply because we didn’t brake enough. House doors can allow us entry and exit or be shut and locked against unwanted intruders. Today I came across a verse about doors and my thoughts were directed (Proverbs 21:1) to a few Bible passages concerning doors and what each represent or mean to you and me.
“For a day in Thy (GOD’s) courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my GOD, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” Psalm 84:10
Gathering with other believers in JESUS to worship the LORD is can be so special and greeting others coming in makes it even more special.
“To HIM (the Good Shepherd/ JESUS) the porter (doorkeeper) opens (the door); and the sheep hear HIS (GOD’s) voice:” John 10:3
In this verse, you and I or perhaps a preacher is the doorkeeper. We open the door for the HOLY SPIRIT to speak to the hearts of the ones we talk to when we treat others with kindness and respect as we tell them about JESUS. Our attitude can open or shut their hearts to hearing GOD’s voice. But if you notice they hear GOD’s voice not ours. That is because a conviction of the HOLY SPIRIT is needed for people to understand GOD’s message (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
“Behold, I (JESUS) stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears MY voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with ME” Revelation 3:20
Notice where JESUS is. HE is outside the door and since when a person believes in JESUS the SPIRIT of JESUS indwells him (Ephesians 1:13), this means this person has not called on the name of the LORD and been saved (Romans 10:9-10, 13) by believing in JESUS (John 3:16). Therefore, opening the door to JESUS means believing in HIM and receiving the love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10).
Then there is the parable of ten virgins found in Matthew 25:1-12 who are waiting for JESUS to come. We are told 5 are wise and had oil (a symbol of the HOLY SPIRIT whom we receive when we believe in JESUS John 7:38-39) and 5 were foolish and had no oil / did not have the HOLY SPIRIT for they were not saved. The time was long and all 10 virgins slept but when the cry that JESUS was coming came, the wise virgins lit their lamps… the foolish had no oil so went to get some. “ while they went to buy, the bridegroom (JESUS) came; and they that were ready went in with HIM to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, LORD, LORD, open to us. But HE answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I don’t know you”
Today because of the times, with troubles and wars there is much talk and many books of the end days and of the coming Rapture followed by a 7-year tribulation. Although they don’t really believe in JESUS many think being in church will save them (maybe by osmosis although being in a garage won’t make you a car). JESUS verified this in Matthew 13 when HE said that in HIS field (the Church) there are thorns (unbelievers) along with the wheat (believers) and HE tells us to let them grow together with believers and perhaps some will be ultimately saved by believing what is being said.
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be hereafter” Revelation 4:1
Many believe, and I am one of them, that Revelation 4:1 is a picture of the Rapture of the Church at the end of the Church age just before the 7-year Tribulation also called Jacob’s trouble. Notice in Revelation 4:1 there is a door into heaven. As we saw when JESUS comes for HIS bride and goes the door is shut. Those statements sure makes me want to tell people to believe in JESUS and call on HIS name to be saved.
But while we await JESUS to call us to come up we are told to occupy until HE returns (Luke 19:13). “These things says HE (JESUS) that is holy, HE that is true, HE that has the key of David, HE that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;I know you works: behold, I have set before you an open door (opportunity), and no man can shut it: for (although) you have little strength, and have kept MY word, and have not denied MY name” Revelation 3:7-8
These verses don’t just tell us awesome things about JESUS, but also say that for the ones who do what JESUS says and tell others about HIM, that as we await HIM JESUS will open doors (opportunities) for us that no one can shut no matter how weak we may think we are.
Isn’t that amazing?
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 