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The Front Door
Things are different now. When I was growing up the front door was nearly always open. That meant several things. It meant you could see outside. You could see what the day was like. You might see some car–putt putting past, and even who was driving it. In the spring you could watch the pitter-patter of the raindrops from a new shower as they splashed along on the sidewalk, or you could look out on the green grass. All of it scenes easily seen through the open front door. Sometimes in front of the open door you might see a brand new batch of little birds, chirping some of their first songs of their new year. You could see the flowers on the front porch and what was blooming at the neighbor’s house across the street. It was great to just sit and look out the front door.
But that’s not all. That open door was a sign of friendliness, kindness, and love. It meant folks were welcome–all kinds of folks. It meant you could see folks coming up the walk. Sometimes there was a warm and neighborly voice at the front door. You never knew who might show up–the postman delivering a package you ordered from the Sears and Roebuck catalog, or a young fellow selling Bibles, or it could be the widow lady next door, or maybe the delivery boy with your grocery order (yes, they would deliver your groceries, even back then). Often it was a friend from coming to tell you some good news of some sort. Or maybe the young Christian friend coming to show of her precious new little baby. It could be about anybody, but one thing was certain: the front door was open – to anybody who came by.
A door is an entry way. It is often metaphorically used to suggest a way of approach to something or someone. We often speak of “doors of opportunity” when we want to emphasize a new positive possibility of some sort. Sometimes doors are a way to approach a new adventure. Doors are vital. They open the way to something.
In John 10:7, there is a statement superior about an open front door. Jesus proclaims, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” The emphatic assertion is that He alone is the door which opens into His fold and that there is no other way to enter in thereat. He is the one door, the only route of entry to forgiveness, to salvation. If a man desires to have his sins remitted, if he desires the salvation provided by Jesus, he must enter the only one open door–Jesus Christ. It’s at the front.
The salvation of Jesus is an open door. “....by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9). Every person who desires to have Jesus as their Divine Shepherd, as the Savior from their sins, can come to Him with an abiding confidence, for His front door is always open. Praise God! He is an open door.
When Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome came to the grave site of Jesus, they were wondering among themselves as to who would roll aside the stone (“for it was very great”) so they could anoint the body of Jesus. They were shocked to find on their arrival that the stone had been rolled away. When they looked for Him they found only the grave clothes folded near where has body had lain. Suddenly they were ordered by the young man nearby, “He is risen!”
The door of deliverance from death was opened by the resurrection of Jesus. The possibility for resurrection was opened to all men when He opened that door. The stone was rolled away and our hope of a resurrected heavenly body was unlocked. He was the forerunner; he assured the possibility.” Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 6:19-20). “For as in Adam, all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:22). Resurrection to eternal life is an open door. He opened it.
Jesus is an open door. If any man will come after Him, he will find the open door he needs for salvation and resurrection , for He is the “way the truth and the life. ” (John 14:6)
But you have a door too. You have to open that door and let Him come in. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:20-21)
Aren’t the front doors that are open wonderful?
