We were sitting at our departure gate in a large airport last summer. Knowing we had several hours to wait for our connecting flight, we had brought along a game and were busy playing. We were somewhat aware that the waiting area had emptied out as passengers on an earlier flight than ours were called to get on their plane. A little while later, we suddenly heard a loud pounding on the door that led out to the loading ramp. The door was locked, and this man, a late passenger, apparently wanted to get on that plane.
A ticket agent soon arrived at the desk, and the man began to speak frantically to her. He asked if she could unlock the door, because he needed to get on that plane! He was told in no uncertain terms that he was TOO LATE! The airplane door had been closed and locked by the flight crew and would not be reopened except in an extreme emergency. He was locked out!
The man’s problem reminds us of more-serious and solemn closed doors mentioned in God’s Word. Like the airplane door, the time came when all of these doors were closed, and those wishing they could go in, even though they knocked and pounded, could not enter.
One of the doors in the Bible was on the ark that Noah built. He worked on that big boat for a long time. His neighbors watched and laughed at the idea of the coming flood he told them about, since it had never rained before on the earth. When the ark was completed, God told Noah and his family and the pairs of animals that had gathered to go into the ark. Then it says, “The Lord shut him in” (Genesis 7:1616And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in. (Genesis 7:16)). We aren’t told if anyone knocked on the door of the ark, but when it started raining, they no doubt remembered Noah’s message about a coming flood. All the mountains were covered with water, and “all flesh died” (Genesis 7:2121And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: (Genesis 7:21)). Only eight people thought of the coming judgment and went into the ark. For the rest it was too late!
Another door in the Bible led into a wedding hall. Ten young women in this story were waiting outside for the bridegroom to arrive. While they waited, they slept, until a call went out at midnight that the bridegroom was coming! They all got up and tried to light their lamps. Five of them had oil in their lamps, a picture of the Holy Spirit that comes to live in everyone who trusts in Jesus to save them. Those five whose lamps were lit were called wise, and we will see why shortly. Five of the women were called foolish because they didn’t have oil in their lamps. “While they went to buy [oil], the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut” (Matthew 25:1010And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:10)).
What follows are some of the saddest words you could ever hear. The five that were locked out came and said, “Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said ... I know you not” (Matthew 25:11-1211Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:11‑12)). In this story we learn that it is wise to be saved from your sins while God’s door of mercy is still open. We don’t know when it will be shut, but when that happens, it will be too late. “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man [Jesus] cometh” (Matthew 24:4444Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 24:44)).
We are happy to be able to share one last verse in which the Lord Jesus Himself offers you a way to get ready for the coming day of judgment on sinners. He says, “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 3:2020Behold, 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)). Will you open up your heart to Jesus right now before it is too late? Tell Him you are a sinner and you want Him to wash your heart clean with His blood. You will become one of God’s children, and you will be ready when the shout comes to take us to His house in heaven. You will be safe inside, and the door to heaven will be shut.
One door, and only one,
And yet its sides are two;
Inside and outside:
On which side are you?
One door and only one,
And yet its sides are two;
I’m on the inside:
On which side are you?
ML-05/15/2011