On the Road to the Final Door
Good Morning Friends,
There are many doors in our lives. And sometimes there is reason to show another the door as has been happening in the NBA news and as happened in the Garden. Thankfully in the Bible there are many references to doors and gates that might just bring meaning to this situation and to our faith journey. We take most of them for granted. Some doors give us admittance, others obstruction and still others protection. How we view these doors is important for there will be days when we will feel like we cannot take another step on the journey and we will need entrance through a door we cannot open without help. You see at the Cross and Resurrection Jesus opened the door of the Holy Spirit and for the Hebrew God to become our God. It just takes a while for us to realize who is knocking and why. With that in mind today we take an honest look at the Keys of the Kingdom, and the gatekeepers, On the Road to the Final Door.
Scripture: And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.
Genesis 7:16 (NRSV)
Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NRSV)
“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:9-13 (NRSV)
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:25-30
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Message: Jesus says that he is at the door and knocks. Obviously, the text refers to his knocking from the outside in order to enter but there is much more here. But first let me digress. Ok, I have had basketball on the brain as I think about Lent and Easter. I imagine Jesus clearing the benches of the money changers. I imagine Jesus sharing a half time meal with the team, knowing that one would foul out. Forgive the pathetic reference to basketball in today’s title but there is a competition going on here that needs to turn to cooperation beyond March Madness. The insight is that victory in Jesus comes in a surprising way. Friends, there is a time when Jesus knocks from within so that we will let him come out. If you have not practiced this, expect some rusty old water first. You see it is really a bit narcissistic for a Church to keep Jesus Christ within herself and not let him out. It can be like a thief and robber not a shepherd. Friends our sin can be an ugly door for sin to enter others’ lives. We make Jesus sick when we shut the door of the Ark before its time or keep Jesus in the grave to rot. Maybe we all need a little fresh air.
Please do not take this in the wrong way for I have not been raised Catholic, but I have the faith to believe that Pope Francis is doing something rather magnanimous but also very pragmatic for the church universal. And I believe he needs some Protestants to stop protesting and start to pray for him. His recent homilies tell the story. You see, according to tradition he has been invested with the Spiritual Keys which once belonged to the Old Covenant of Israel. Jesus transferred this spiritual authority to churches, your pastor and governing body has them as well and I believe that Pope Francis having heard Jesus knocking on the door, wanting to share a meal, wanting to get out, is demonstrating a game winning strategy for all of us to unlock the doors and do something together that we cannot do alone. The problem is that we really do not risk enough to believe that Jesus is the door for our lives. We want Him to enter our door and stop there instead of us entering His. As the handles and knobs on our doors get worn out we just seek to replace them. Even if we are lucky enough to avoid the bad stuff, the paint still peals and death also knocks at the door. Our body, family, community, and even our legacy all wear away. But there is another door. Here we stop fighting the divine control built into the fabric of the universe and discover that the key to protection from the decay of this life is to get a transformed life. The road to the final door leads us to choose a new door, for the door of the world only leads to loss and destruction. Friends, when we are weary, we are to enter into God’s rest. Friends, lift up those unlocking doors. Know that Jesus knocks as a warning for us to change…for the church to change. Know that Jesus is at our door seeking entrance but also exit. Know that Jesus is the door for the weary to find rest. Lead with Jesus believing that God will through him, score at the final buzzer winning the game.
Pray we let Jesus out and off the bench. Pray we enter His rest but also His work and play. Pray we enter and never shut the open doors of opportunity, unity and service. Pray we open the doors of the house of the Lord and get involved in worship. Pray we look forward to it and long for it. Pray we offer a welcoming invitation for all to come into the presence of God. Pray we realize there are two sides to this door. Pray our words not be jealous or immature. Pray we always leave a door open of compassion and forgiveness. Pray we have opened doors of communication. Pray that when we pray with shut doors we are prompted to live with open ones. Pray the Lord helps us to speak as God spoke to us demonstrating the transforming power of love. Pray we find the social, historical, mental, emotional, religious and spiritual keys to the hearts of others. Pray we connect to the perceptions of others so that the locked doors that protect their emotional inner being might be opened to the love of Jesus. Pray that none of us miss the hour of His visitation upon us. Pray we open the door and invite him to occupy all of us and all the world. Pray that when our days of service have come to an end that God overflows in us showing others the door of new life. Pray we realize who really owns the team.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 