We often say when someone is shown the door that he is given the sack. He is told to leave, as a gesture of not returning to that job or place. It is not a nice thing to be shown the door. However, when we are pointed to the door in the Biblical sense, it means the opposite. That is because the ways of man and the ways of God are completely opposite.
John 10:9 says of Jesus, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” This is a heavily loaded statement. Jesus refers to Himself as the door. In this context, the door has a positive meaning. It is also seen as an invitation for people to come in through this door because there is something to be gained rather than lost in doing so. When you are shown the door at work, you know you are losing your salary. By coming to Jesus who is seen as the door, you SHALL be saved.
Why do we need to come to Jesus, you may ask? If you were in a land of famine, wouldn’t you move to a land where there is food to feed your family? Genesis 42 tells us that Joseph’s father did that; he sent his sons to Egypt to buy food. Verse 1-2 says Jacob asked his 10 sons, “Why are you staring at one another?… go down to Egypt where there is grain and buy some for us so we may live and not die.” We all want to live and not die so we need to go to that place where we can be sustained.
The latter part of John 10:9 says we can go in and out and find pasture. Since Jesus is the door we enter through, we can find green pastures to feed on. Like sheep that are well cared for, we will be healthy in all areas of our lives; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. So Jesus is the door to our wholesome living and we shall not lack anything that He has to offer us. This means we get a foretaste of heaven.
Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Would you like to have such an experience? All you have to do is go to the door. John 6:37-38 says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” See, the door is before you. When you go through this door, unspeakable joy awaits you! □
Linda Pearl
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