Doors

One sign of winter is the changing of our backdoor — I take out the screen of our storm door and put the thick glass pane in its place. Similarly, we bring out the draft stoppers on each of our doors. Both processes are simple. Incredibly simple, since I can reach both doors. See, we keep our doors attached to the floor, which isn’t always the case in Scripture.

Following the prophetic word given to him about the seven churches throughout Asia Minor, John beholds another vision. Revelation 4:1–2 tells of a door that appears in heaven. John focuses upon this door, unattached to any floor. Not only is there a door, but it is opened for him! With this supernatural door high above him, the bombastic voice of God’s messenger directs him, “come up here!” How could John possibly climb to the door? He sees in this moment not the majesty of his own abilities; his rightest reason and worthiest wit are useless. As George Whitefield once said so captivatingly, “Works! Works! A man get to heaven by works? I would as soon think of climbing to the moon on a rope of sand!”

How does John arrive to view the grandeur and glory of what God has for him to see? The Spirit of God takes hold of John and brings him into the throne room of heaven to watch the worship of the Lamb who is Holy, Holy, Holy (Rev. 4:8). Truly, a room with a view!

While I prepare for winter, setting up my little, drafty, earthly doors there is yet a door open for me that Christ alone has opened, by whom Christ alone leads His people beyond the threshold. Rest in the promise that you can never obtain entrance on your own. You can never reach such heights. Rest in the true and better promise of the Spirit’s regenerating power, Christ has called you by His own works—and in faith we grasp not the door frame but the very throne of grace. 

However you are holding on to your own works, reason, muscle, and so on, cast it all off in the freedom of Christ’s atonement. If He has called you, He will lead you where none but those in His power can go.

Pastor Chris