Jesus made many statements defining him to us. He said “I Am” the Bread of Life or the Good Shepherd. He was not boasting but revealing who and what he is. Think about the greatness of his deity. It deserves a higher name than what he used here. He used a commonplace object we hardly think about. Jesus said “I am the door” and if we expect to enter into heaven, it must be through this door.
John 10: 1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
This is a very valuable piece of knowledge for us. This descriptive name is one we can trust. Jesus is the door. “I am” is the name of God. He was saying he is God, the door. We need to grasp this. There are no other doors. Don’t try to fashion one. It doesn’t need redoing. It needs no help with its design.
For any building to be of use it must have a door. We take doors for granted. We go in and out of our homes through the door. There is an entrance to the kingdom of God. Salvation can be received by whosoever comes. We can’t choose our own way. We can’t create another way. The Bible says to try to go in any other way is the same as being a thief and robber. If we’re not willing to go through the door, there is no way to enter into the palace of God. There is no emergency door or attic door; there is one door. That’s all that is necessary. If Christ wasn’t enough, God would have provided another way. Getting to heaven depends on your relationship with the door.
The door to my house does me no good if I never take the knob and go in. Many people believe all they have to do is be at the door, be associated with it. Stand near it. Being affiliated with a church won’t get you anywhere. You must be inside the door. King Agrippa said he was almost persuaded to be a Christian. That wasn’t good enough. People live their lives by the door and die in their sins.
Jesus died for our sins. Regardless of how wide our sins are or how tall our iniquities may be, the door is big enough. We can fit through the door. Now is the time. Don’t play around with this. The time is coming that the door won’t be open. Jesus provided himself. It took condescension on his part to become the door.
Using a door is not rocket science. Kids figure it out before they can talk. We think we’re smart enough to make our own way. We can’t make the door because we can’t save ourselves. If we’re not in him, by him, and through him—Jesus Christ, the door—then we’re outside away from salvation. If you quit letting him be the Lord of your life, you’re walking out the door. There is no reason for anyone to be caught outside the door.
The gate of the sheepfold is the least ornate gate there is. A poor shepherd would take whatever strong materials he had and make his door. It had to be built with the strength to withstand the wild animals and protect the sheep. Jesus likened the door of heaven to this. There is nothing sturdier than Jesus Christ and our faith in him.
You can’t come through me. You can’t come through the doors of this church. Neither will get you to heaven. You must enter in by Jesus. I can’t push you in. You must do it yourself. People take their last breath and open their eyes in hell having sat by the door all their lives. Jesus will let you in if you ask him. Any of us can reach his door and turn the knob. No other way is possible.
This is too bad of a world and the enemy of souls is too mean for anyone to stay outside the door. Take the door. Enter in. Do it today.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 