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The Door
Kevi Williams

What is a Door?
Webster defines it as a movable barrier for opening and closing, an entrance, cabinet, a doorway or any means of access. Think about it. From cars to houses, stores to office buildings, doors are everywhere. I would rather walk through a door to get where I’m going than to slide, crawl, or swim to get there. It’s far easier!

The Gate or Door Often Represents Jesus.
The Scriptures indicate that Jesus is our access, our entrance, or way to the Father. It is only through him that we are allowed to enter into the presence of God. In Mathew 7: 13-14, the word gate is used in the same way as the word door. It says: Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straightened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. (Amplified Version)

Let’s also look at another related Scripture:
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter by the narrow door (force yourselves through it) for many I tell you will try to enter and will not be able to. (Amplified). This is what Luke meant when he used the word Strive:
1. To make a strenuous effort
2. To contend in opposition; struggle (Webster’s definition)

What Does This Mean?
In these two passages, Jesus is saying this:
Make a choice! Enter into eternal life by striving for a relationship with Christ, who is your only access to salvation, or choose a life without Christ which leads to destruction. If you choose eternal life, you are choosing to make the effort to work at learning about Jesus and growing in fellowship with him. If you really want to get to know someone, you make every effort to spend time with them and learn about them. You are determined. You strive in your effort to succeed in this. So, we are being challenged to enter into a fellowship, a relationship with Jesus. As we make that effort, Jesus meets us and gives us to the Father.

Three particular scriptures are relevant here. They make this point very clear.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him; I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (New American Standard)
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction (access) by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exalt in the hope of the glory of God. (NAS)
Ephesians 2:18 For through Him we both have our access in one spirit to the Father! (NAS)

Wow! Jesus is the doorway to Father God. He’s our only means of access. Close your eyes. Now imagine Jesus, the one whom you’ve spent time getting to know saying, “Come, I want to introduce you to My Father.” Everything you thought you knew or perceived about God is changed when Jesus walks you into the throne room, the very chamber of God. Old mindsets, misconceptions are washed away and your very heart is renewed. This enables you to stay daily on the narrow road of your Christian walk.

The Benefits of Accessibility
In John 10: 9-10 it says: I am the door; if anyone enters through Me he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life and might have it in abundance. (NAS)

Let’s look at four key words from these two verses:

The first key word is Door. The Greek word for Door in this passage is “Thura” #2374 and it says: Of faith, by acceptance of the gospel. The door through which the sheep go out and in, the name of him who brings salvation to those who follow his guidance. (Jesus)

The second key word is Pasture. The Greek word for Pasture is “Nomē, # 3542 and it says: Pasturage, fodder, food. In figurative discourse i.e. he shall not want the needful supplies for the true life.

The third key word is Abundantly. The Greek word for abundantly is “Perissos” #4053 and it says: To have abundance, an exceeding measure something above the ordinary.

The fourth key word is Might. Webster’s dictionary says:
1. may
2. (used to express possibility)

By accepting Jesus as your Savior, you are choosing to accept His guidance. You are accepting his ability to supply all your needs in this life and choosing to rest in him. We also however, need to be mindful of the word might. It is used twice in the above passage. The word might means that something may happen or has the possibility of occurring. It comes down to our choice. We may choose to accept Jesus as our Savior, but when it comes to the nitty-gritty things of life, do we choose to let him supply abundantly? Do we choose to rest in him? Do we choose to let him take us to the Father?

My friends, I challenge you to strive to enter the narrow gate. Strive to build your relationship with him. Make a conscious choice in every situation, in every circumstance of your life, to let him be your abundant supplier, your pasture to find rest. Above all, let him take you to the Father.

Jesus! What a wonderful gift to us from the Father above! He is always making intercession to the Father on our behalf. Shouldn’t we make the time everyday to get to know him as our best friend, provider, healer, shepherd, and our all in all. He’s the Door. Enter In!

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References:
New American Standard Version Bible
The Amplified Bible
Webster’s Concise American Family Dictionary
Thayer Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament