Doors

Everywhere we go we find doors.  When we were growing up we probably heard the voice of our parents numerous times telling us to “close the door” to keep the cold out and the warmth in.  When we leave our house or apartment today we will open and close a door and probably turn and lock the door.  Some of us will wait for an elevator door to slide open.  To get on a bus or in a car we must open and close a door.  Often to enter parking lots we have to insert a key, push in a card or click a sensor in order to open the gate or door.  Doors of shops and offices have signs on them telling what hours they are open and closed.   Doors are everywhere. 

In the Bible we read many words about doors.  Here are just a few.

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  (Genesis 4:7 NIV)

This reminds us to be careful to do what is right because wrong-doing opens the door to all sorts of troubles that will eventually overwhelm us.  A little lying, a little cheating will only cause us great trouble.

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3 NIV)

It's not just what we do but also what we say that we need to be very careful about.  Our mouth is like a door and we need to be careful when we open it to say something.  We can ask God to help us speak truth, speak kindness, and speak those things that God knows will be helpful to those we come into contact with.

Doors are used to explain how we should talk to God.  When we pray, we are told to keep speaking to God in the same way we would knock on a door until someone comes.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7 NIV)

There's another important door.  It's the door painted in this very famous painting. It's the door of our heart.  It tells the story of this verse from the Bible.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  (Revelation 3:20 NKJV)

Jesus stands at that door.  It's a very unique door -- there's no handle on the outside.  Why?  Jesus waits for us to decide if we will open the door to him and invite him into our lives.  Why would we open the door to Jesus? Well, Jesus promises us companionship and blessing.  Jesus promises us forgiveness and healing.  Jesus promises to always be with us in good times and bad.  Jesus also promises to open the door to heaven and a place of our very own with him forever. 

 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3 NKJV)

Doors.  As we go in and out of doors today, let's remember to speak and act with integrity.  Let's pray with faith and perseverance.  Most of all, let's invite Jesus to come through the door of our hearts so we can enter the door of heaven and live with God forever.

©2014 Partners in Hope