Are you one of those people who has a drawer full of old keys? You know, car keys, door keys, padlock keys or any other type of key you threw in there? They may not be labeled, you are not sure what they go to, and they are rusting and smelling of oxidized old metal; the smell permeating your sinuses. Maybe your drawer includes some old key chains, bits of string, a stray push pin (ouch) and a few loose screws? (Actually, we all have a few loose screws in our drawer.)
There may be several keys to one door. Maybe some of the doors don’t exist anymore, or the lock was changed, and you kept the old key anyway.
During His ministry on earth, Jesus stated plainly, “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
If Jesus is the Door, the ONLY Door, what key unlocks that Door? There is only one key that unlocks it. You can never open that Door by yourself, only when you find the right key. It’s the Door to your eternal future. Better get it right.
And, if Jesus stands at the door and knocks, what key unlocks that door? “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:20. Apparently this is a different door and there are multitudes of them no one can number. He says “anyone,” which must mean He knocks on everyone’s door.
Are these doors – the One Door and the multitude of doors - even locked? Maybe there’s another way in. I love a good mystery.
In your key drawer, some keys are labeled with all kinds of good works you could be doing. You try each of those keys, but they will not unlock the Door. Frustrating. Just keep trying harder! Try all the keys, surely you’re bound to get it right sometime.
Let’s take a look at Hebrews 10.
10:1 – “For the law…can never with these same sacrifices which they offer continually…make those who approach perfect.” Notice – “never”?
10:4 – “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” Or for clarification you might insert the works you are performing and offering for your salvation. Did you notice the part that says, “not possible”?
10:9-10. Behold I have come to do Your will, O God . . .By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Can you see that by God’s will we are sanctified through Jesus’ death?
What key unlocks the Door that we want to enter to be reconciled back to God, to be transformed into Jesus’ likeness, to be with God for eternity, to be “saved”? We all would like eternal life after this life. But we can also be saved from ourselves while we are walking around now. Take a glance at this “The price of heaven is Jesus Christ.’ Desire of Ages, 385. We must surrender to Jesus our desire to have some control or some part in our own salvation. We can pray for the complete understanding of what this means.
His grace is sufficient for us. More than sufficient I would say.
Pick up the key marked “Jesus Sacrifice.” Allow Him to appropriate the merits of His blood to you. It will unlock the door and you can go through into complete freedom, living with the Holy Spirit creating a new heart in you while you wait for Jesus to come get you off this crumbling planet. “In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
Sanctification (the process of changing you into who you were originally planned to be) is not justification. Label a key with that one!
And the door that Jesus is knocking on? No key works. You are on the inside of that door, and you locked it yourself with a strong deadbolt. So how do you let Him in, which in turn allows you to get out and live with joy and peace, in freedom? How do you get freedom from being locked inside of yourself?
We already established you locked it. What opens this door? You have a choice, as you do in every part of your life. You can make the choice to reach up and turn the deadbolt, swing the door open on its rusty old hinges, and have dinner with your Savior!
It’s as simple, and as complex, as that. It is a process that will take time to see the result of your choice, but – it will be the best and most important choice you will ever make.
Love requires freedom.
Freedom involves risk.
Risk entails responsibility. Responsibility enables growth. (Quote from Light Bearer’s Ministry).
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