PrayerPower

I AM – The Door

By Petey Prater

The picture fascinates me. Jesus is waiting in a shaded garden, knocking on a door that has no outside handle. On the door light shines in the shape of a heart.

As a child I didn’t understand what it meant. Now I do.

The Bible says Jesus isn’t only standing at the door of our heart wanting to enter but that he is the door, the gate to eternal life.

· “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

· “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” John 10:9

We’re all invited to enter eternal life through Jesus, the door. Heaven’s door opened when sinless Jesus died on the cross. He took my punishment so I wouldn’t have to die for my sin. Raised from the dead, he offers me his pure life in exchange. If I repent of sin, God forgives me, giving me Jesus’ goodness instead. Because God now sees me as clean, I can be friends with God and enter heaven when I die. Jesus - our perfect sin offering as well as the door to Heaven. What a gift!

As a child I sang this song about Heaven:

One door and only one though its sides are two, inside and outside, on which side are you?

One door and only one though its sides are two. I’m on the inside, on which side are you?

In the picture of Jesus knocking on our heart’s door there’s no handle on the outside. Jesus can’t come in unless I open the door. He leaves the choice with me. If I won’t open the door to him I am choosing separation from God and eternal death.

Scripture says this door is for Gentiles as well as Jews:

• “He had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith (in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom we obtain salvation in the kingdom of God).” Acts 14:27 Amplified

If God has opened a door to heaven aren’t we foolish to ignore it?

• “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Luke 13:24

Why will many “try to enter and will not be able to?” It’s because they try to come to Heaven by a door other than Christ, the Son of God. Good works, perfection, even self-effort will not open Heaven’s door.

• “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
• “The Judge is standing at the door!” James 5:9

Lord Jesus, I believe you’re the only door to Heaven and eternal life. Just as you chose me, I choose you. Come in, I open my heart door to you. Forgive me of my sin. Amen.

Petey Prater writes from Beaverton, Oregon. peteyprater@yahoo.com