Come On In from the Out of Doors

I will start this blog out by explaining its title.  Did you know that when we see the word, ‘without’ in the following Scriptures, it means. . .out of doors.

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, (out of doors) and that ye may have lack of nothing. 1 Thessalonians 4:12  

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, (out of doors) redeeming the time.Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.Colossians 4:5-6

behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without (out of doors) are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Revelation 22:12-15

We do not want to be without God in this world or in the world to come.  We do not want to be living outside of His grace.

We see doors in the Old Testament when the children of Israel were given instructions on how to avoid that dreaded last plague in Egypt, the plague of death.  Death is the last plague we will all face, but there was a remedy for them back then, and there is a remedy for us now.  To avoid this plague, that would come because of Pharaoh’s refusal to let God’s people go, the children of Israel were instructed to take the blood of an unblemished lamb and smear it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of their houses.  They would remain inside their houses with the Passover Lamb, which they would eat together.  All that obeyed these instructions were saved from death.

. . . when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. Exodus 12

We avoid the plague of ‘spiritual’ death, by our faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

And did you know that one of the details of the doors that led to the most holy place in the house of God that Solomon built, was hinges made of pure gold, or we could say it this way…the doors that led to the holy place were connected to hinges made of pure gold. 1 Kings 7:50

The High Priest was the only one that could go inside the holy place. Once a year he would go inside with the blood of animals to offer sacrifice for his own sins and for the sins of the people.

The New Covenant, established by Jesus Christ, has a house too.  This house is made up of people that have become God’s very own children. Through Christ, they have become part of the family of God because they identify with Son that God sent; thus, they are referred to as, the House of God. Jesus Christ is their spiritual High Priest and He didn’t just bring a lamb, to sacrifice for sins, He was the Lamb.  He bled and died for the sins of mankind and then He entered into heaven itself to appear in the presence of God for us, and continues to intercede to God on our behalf. Read Hebrews 9

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Hebrews 3:1-6

As God’s children, we carry the light of God inside of us and it is the Holy Spirit that sheds the light or knowledge of God in our hearts; God is love.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16

Jesus said,

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

When we hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we understand its message of salvation, the light goes on inside of us, faith comes and we are saved.  The Holy Spirit of God helps us with that because Jesus Christ made a promise before He ascended back to His Father.

He said,

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13-15

Jesus also explained that the kingdom of heaven was like ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom.  While they waited for him, they slumbered and slept. 

Five were wise; five were foolish.  What was the difference?  The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps, the foolish did not.  When the cry was made at midnight: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” The wise had oil for their lamps-light; the foolish did not, so the foolish went out to buy some oil, but while they were gone the bridegroom came.  The wise went inside with him to the marriage and the door was shut.  Afterwards the others came knocking on the door, “open to us.”  But the bridegroom answered. “Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” Matthew 25:1-12

We see a door again in the book of Revelation. 

Jesus said,

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20  

We enter into this life through the doors of our mother’s womb.  Job 3:10

We enter eternal life through the door of our Father in heaven’s Word-the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

The Holy Bible states many times that the only way to the Father in heaven is by Jesus Christ. 

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

While explaining that a true shepherd enters the sheepfold by the door and that a true shepherd looks out for the sheep because the sheep are His, Christ proclaimed, “I am the door of the sheep.”  John 10:1-18

We can say that Jesus Christ is the door to enter heaven, where our Father is.

Prayer: May we hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, as He knocks upon our heart’s door by His precious, Holy Spirit.  May we, without hesitation, fling open wide our heart’s doors and joyfully, readily invite Him to live inside our hearts by faith, so we can be rooted and grounded in God’s great love, and be able to comprehend and know that love, which surpasses knowledge and be filled with all the fulness of God. Amen ~Ephesians 3