February 22, 2022
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, His masterful employment of metaphors helped to build the understanding of His listeners. He spoke with a vision of the future hardships that His followers would face. Our Good Shepherd is always with us, and His encouragements as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4) make the difference between hope and hopelessness.
Jesus knew that the fallen Medieval church would claim ownership of the key to salvation. His marvelous Word develops ‘door and key’ metaphors to strengthen our defenses against the adversary’s counterfeits.
After Paul was stoned and left for dead in the region of Lycaonia, the disciples gathered around him and he got up. They traveled to many cities, encouraging faithfulness to the Lord.
Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Acts 14:27
Having founded a church in the midst of the immensely pagan culture in the city of Corinth, Paul told them of opportunities to spread the gospel…
For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:9
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel . . . a door was opened to me by the Lord. 2 Corinthians 2:12
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Colossians 4:2-4
Paul knew and taught that the One who owns the key to salvation has all the power to open doors of opportunity for sharing the Good News. And remember that Jesus identified Himself to the faithful church at Philadelphia as:
“He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.” Revelation 3:7b
Some 600 years before the birth of Jesus, Daniel was shown the corrupt church that would emerge following the Messiah’s death, and the immense power it would muster against the true people of God. He was shown how the door would be shut against it:
But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him. Daniel 7:26-27