“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.
My daughter is fascinated with interesting old “doors.” Whenever we travel together, she takes pictures of every ancient or beautiful door she can find and sometimes at great risk to herself! Then, she makes a collage from the pictures to hang on the wall. Her works of art are conversation pieces! We have doors of Israel, doors of Italy, doors of Greece and doors of Ephesus!
On a recent trip to the Ark Encounter in northern Kentucky, I was delighted to see a “door” that represented the door leading into Noah’s Ark. It was constructed of heavy wood, about 30’ high and over it shown a cross. What a timely reminder! All who entered the Ark were spared from the judgment that fell on the earth! God told Noah to build an Ark with one door, there was only one way to find refuge, through the door. Even in judgment, God provided mercy. Jesus is our “ark” and “door” of salvation. He explained to the people, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved,” John 10:9.
About a thousand years after the flood, Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The evening before they were to leave, they were to sacrifice a perfect lamb and apply its blood around the door frames of their homes. When the death angel passed over the land, the oldest son’s life would be spared. Here is another door with blood in the shape of a cross, a foreshadowing of Jesus, God’s perfect Lamb who gave His life to take away our sins.
About 500 years after Moses, Solomon built the Temple of Gold in Jerusalem, a place for God to dwell. At the entrance to the main hall, the doors were carved with cherubim, palm trees and flowers, overlaid with gold hammered evenly over the carvings. The temple was a magnificent sight for the ceremonially clean priests to see, but the common people were not allowed to enter! Today, we don’t need a temple, “we can draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, by a new and living way made sure by the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)
Then, there is the sheep’s door. Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep……..I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:9,11. In Bible times, the shepherd slept at the only entrance to the sheep fold, so he was the “door.” Jesus, our Good Shepherd laid down His life for us poor defenseless, dumb and directionally challenged sheep. The Cross is another “door.” Jesus left His Father’s home to give his life as a ransom for us. Our minds have no concept of the Father’s creation or the glory of the Father’s house. If you get a chance to go to a Planetarium and see the wonders of the universe, you will not understand how anyone could possibly think the world just evolved! The Creator is a master designer and created the worlds for His Son’s enjoyment, and ours! Jesus wanted to share His glory with us, so He came to earth.
After Jesus was crucified, He was laid in an empty tomb in Jerusalem, the tomb of a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea. The entrance or “door” was sealed by the Roman authorities. A large stone was rolled over the entrance, but no tomb could hold Jesus! He rose on the third day, is now ascended into heaven and intercedes for us before the Father. What a Savior!!
Today, He stands at your heart’s door and knocks. Have you answered with a “yes?” He waits outside for you to ask Him in………accept Him as your Lord and Savior today! He has an abundant life awaiting you!
Your friend, Jean