The Closed Door

June 27

(Luke 13:25-30 NIV) “Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' {26} "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' {27} "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'  {28} "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. {29} People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. {30} Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

(John 14:1-7 NIV) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. {2} In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. {4} You know the way to the place where I am going." {5} Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" {6} Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. {7} If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

(Revelation 3:8 NIV) “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”

There are two words today that have such a negative context that no one wants to be associated with them. The two words are “narrow” and “closed”. Yesterday Jesus spoke of a narrow gate that only a few would be able to enter. Today He speaks of a closed door that no one can breach. Some will label this narrow minded or closed minded, but Jesus said that not everyone will be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Many see the narrow gate and the closed door as “discriminatory” and in our culture discrimination is a cardinal sin. But Jesus said only a few will find the narrow door, and when that door was closed, no one else will be allowed in. This makes Jesus and those who follow Him, guilty of discrimination in the carnal mind. Jesus makes no apologies for being the only way to God. The door is open temporarily. Once God closes the door it will be closed for eternity. Today Jesus says, “Enter here. Enter now!” Do not doubt His word. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day