And it was Shut...the Wayfarer 12/26/17

And it was Shut
12/26/17

Ezekiel 44:1-2

King James Version (KJV)

44 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.

² Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.

There was a time, in my long ago youth, when gates were closed only to keep in livestock... no locks were needed and those gates were easily opened in welcome to those crossing fields, who in turn closed the gate behind them for the reason they were found to be closed.

Those having permission to hunt always observed the courtesy of closing gates found closed, assuring the continuance of their welcome and permission to use land for their pleasure that was not theirs , respecting the ownership as well that the rights of that ownership as well.

Doors to houses in that long ago time were more often left unlocked than locked, in certainty of the sanctity of the home without fear for the safety of those inhabiting the home as the same respect accorded others was returned by all within the neighborhood, and violation of that respect was rapidly vindicated by the inhabitants sharing the same values and morals of those they lived among.

Those days are past, lamentably, as locks on gates and doors become necessity, ever increasing in number and strength as the less sturdy are breached, and the commonality of the past becomes less and less common.

Those doors and gates are but reminder of another door that has been left open, another gate that was left unlocked, that must and shall suffer the same closing and locking once the reason for having been left unlocked and open passes into oblivion for the same reasons these other gates and doors are now so often closed and locked.

Matthew 7:14 KJV

¹⁴Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

There remains one gate, still open for those who find it, recognize it when it is seen, and are willing to enter through that gate, having chosen the narrow and only WAY leading to life through a door that was left open for them.

John 10:7-10

King James Version (KJV)

⁷ Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

⁸ All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

⁹ I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

That gate, that door do indeed  remain open...to those hearing and heeding the voice of  a single shepherd...Christ Jesus Himself.

There are those who cannot find that gate or door, simply because they have no desire to search for it along the narrow WAY provided them to find it.

There are also those who carry things with them that cannot and will not fit through the door if it is found, that must be discarded in order to open either gate or door, just as someone carrying a load must first unburden hands to open gates or doors previously used in illustration.

That unburdening comes through repentance, without which hands may fumble at a lock or door knob interminably without success because of the unwillingness to first lay aside all that keeps them from entering.

The desire to enter through the gate must be stronger than the desire to hold on to whatever precludes that entry.

Just to knock on that door requires that hands be emptied enough for the knocking to occur, and without having knocked the door remains closed for those refusing to even acknowledge the door itself.

Matthew 7:7

 ⁷"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Asking, to find the WAY, seeking the door and knocking to have it opened are all required for entry.

Each is done individually, each must be done willingly, each bears the result of the importance to the individual.

2 Timothy 1:12

King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer