As noted in my last blog, the Old and New Testaments reveal a number of doors that provide significant insights into the role that each door played in its original context, and which continue to have an important role to play in our own spiritual lives today. I have identified seven doors that are important for us to consider. Last week we looked at the first three doors found in the Old Testament, and this week we will look at the final four doors found in the New Testament. Last week we considered:  

1) THE ARK DOOR

2) THE PASSOVER DOOR

3) THE TEMPLE DOORS

So today, let’s jump right in and look at the four doors found in the New Testament. They include:

4) THE SHEEP’S DOOR

In the Gospel of John, Jesus spoke of “the door of the sheep,” and of Himself being that door. What did He mean? Let’s look at what He said:

“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 hear them.  I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:7-8).

In New Testament times, shepherds would guard the opening through which the sheep would go into their pen. This was particularly important at night when the sheep were preparing to sleep. The shepherd would guard the opening from predators and thieves by actually sleeping in the opening, thus becoming the “door” of the sheep pen.  Jesus is the “door” for the sheep of His pasture by protecting us from predators or thieves and by providing a place of “rest” for all those in His flock. Remember what Jesus said:

Come to Me all you who are weary and heaven laden and I will give you “rest” (Matthew 11:28).

If you are one of His sheep, that is His promise to us. He will protect us and give us the kind of rest and peace that only comes from Him.

5) THE NARROW DOOR

Not only is Jesus the “Door of the Sheep,” but He is also the “Narrow Door.” Remember His words,

“Enter through the narrow door; for the door is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the door is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

All of us walk through one of these two metaphorical doors when we choose the paths we will take for our lives. First, there is the wide door that most people choose, and it a door that takes us down a path away from God and His Word, and will eventually lead to destruction. In other words, it leads to a life that is destroyed by the ravages of sin. But the other door is narrow, and this door leads to “life.” The door is narrow because it leads through the cross to the living Savior who guards the “door to life.” Not many choose this door because they think that life will be too restrictive, when in reality, it’s Jesus who gives us the ultimate freedom from the penalty and power of sin over our lives. The narrow door is Jesus, who gives us “life,” His very life.

6) THE TOMB’S DOOR

Let’s looks at the text that tells us about this door:

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone….And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it (Matthew 27:65-66; 28:6).

Have you ever noticed that it wasn’t internal geological forces that caused this earthquake on Easter Sunday morning but an “angel of the Lord” as he came and rolled away the stone from the mouth of the tomb. Keep in mind that the stone wasn’t rolled away so that Jesus could get out, but so that the women (and later Peter and John) could look in. Furthermore, we should all realize that the tomb was empty so that we could be filled with the presence and power of God. Can you imagine a “dead” Savior still in the tomb? Of course not. He is living today because He rose from the dead. And, more than that, because He lives, He is able to give us His very Life and provide hope for each of us to face the challenges of each new day.

7) THE LAST DOOR

The last door is our door, that is, it’s your own door as well as mine. It’s a door that only we can open. Jesus is actually speaking in the text that tells us about this door:

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

I’m sure that most of you have seen the picture of Jesus knocking on this door, the door of your heart and mind, waiting for you to open the door. Interesting, the painter intentionally left off any handle on the outside of the door. The implication is that the door could only be opened from the inside. And that is the door through which Jesus desires to enter. He desires to come into each of us, through the door of our heart, so that we can have fellowship with Him. All we have to do is to open it, and let Him come into our lives and first save us, and then to live inside of us thus opening the door for fellowship with the risen Lord.

Actually, the first thing we must hear is our Lord knocking on the door of our heart. There are times in each of our lives when we hear that knocking more clearly than at other times. But, if you haven’t opened the door for Him to enter, today just might be a great time for you to do it. Just respond to his gentle knocking (He won’t pound on the door). Just invite Him to come in and forgive your sins and have fellowship with you. He will respond to your request. Remember, the Last Door is Your door!

Blessing to all of you today.