When my 74 year old cottage got new windows a year ago, we came around to the back of the house and decided to substitute a door for one of the windows. It seemed crazy, since there was nothing but thin air on the other side, no porch, stairway or other surface for feet to stand on, but we hoped one day to build a deck there.
If anyone were to sleepwalk through that door, they’d either wake up during their rapid descent or go unconscious when they hit the concrete 12 feet below. For now, though, we’re careful to keep the door closed and double-locked.
Nobody likes to have doors closed against them. Our kids, grandkids and even Jack have fervently wanted to open that door to nowhere and walk through it. I guess we all view an open door as a symbol of opportunity. To walk through it is to have an adventure.
Open doors are usually a good thing, like when a friend opens her home and invites us to “C’mon in!” Some churches even use the open door image as part of their name, The Church of the Open Door, hoping friends and strangers alike will all “C’mon in.”
Although we like doors to be open, sometimes walking through them leads us to places we don’t want to go – a dentist’s office, a hospital, a funeral home. But even then we walk through, knowing that what’s on the other side is important.
Some open doors have eternal significance. Jesus labeled himself “The Door” to eternal security. (John 10:9) He was trying to give his listeners a word picture of the most crucial door they could ever open, making sure they understood that he was the way through to heaven. He also told them a knock on that door would cause it to open up, and he invited everyone to knock. (Matthew 7:7)
My favorite scriptural door, though, is the one mentioned toward the end of the Bible. God describes a door with the Lord on one side and us on the other. This time he’s the one knocking, and we’re the ones deciding whether or not to open up. He’s also using his voice to get our attention, hoping we’ll hear and open up. Incredibly he says that if we do, he’ll enter our lives. Not only that, but he promises to share a close relationship with us much like sharing a meal with those we love, in intimate fellowship.
Why does he have an interest in coming to us at all? When I’ve asked him, his answer has always been the same:
“Because I love you.”
So, unlike my cottage door to nowhere that’s closed and double-locked, I’ve swung wide the door to my life, and Jesus has come in.
“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)
AMEN!!!
LOVED this today Margaret!
I’m so thankful for God’s gift to you of your house – and the furry angel who lives there with you.
Beautiful illustration, that can be understood by all. Let’s make this a “Door-Opening Day” !
I love this analogy; I could be…too…the the Lord gave you the idea of putting the door there to be a daily reminder of ..He will show you other doors of opportunity, and purpose, in the future, just as this one will be for a deck – when the time is right….they will be opened.
Good post!
Margaret, I love this. It’s a great analogy. And I love the painting of Christ knocking on the door of your heart. I believe the painter of this did two versions, and the original of one of them hangs in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London — or used to. When I was going to London for the first time, Warren Wiersbe said to make sure to see the paintings in St. Paul’s, and especially this one. I saw it on several trips, and then later it was gone, along with all the other paintings. A gentleman at the cathedral said they were taken down for cleaning, and would be returned. I haven’t been back since then, so I certainly hope it’s hanging there again. It’s huge and very moving.