Go Through The Right Door

When it comes to choices we make in life, going through the right door can make a big difference in our lives.  For instance, what clothes are you going to wear?  I have about 75 neck ties hanging in my closet.  Shall I walk through door #1 that is dating back to when my dad wore ties to work and pick one of those to wear?  They are mostly wide ties that look like they were made of fabric from my grandmother’s couch.  I can walk through door #2 and pick very narrow ties that were also in style once upon a time.  Or should I walk through door #3 and pick a tie that has been given to me in the last 4 or 5 years?  Which door I pick will create an image people will notice in a second. 

Or how about education?  Through door #1 you have educators who trumpet the virtues of open education with each student proceeding at their own pace.  Through door #2 and educators are yelling, “Let’s get back to the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic!” 

Dare we approach the doors of politics?  Behind door #1 lawmakers and taxpayers say that it’s only right for the government to control programs so everyone has equal access and equal rights.  Behind door #2 lawmakers and taxpayers are yelling, “The government is too big!  It’s time for privatization of our schools, social services and social programs.”  Going through these doors can have quite the impact on our lives!

Maybe you could care less about fashion, education and politics, but there are doors that we want to pay attention to. Those are the doors of spiritual matters. We don’t want to get caught going along with the crowd through the wrong door that ends up in eternal disaster!  Jesus will guide us today so we aren’t too care-less or too care-full.  Let’s listen to Jesus guide us to

Go Through The Right Door

That May Not Follow The Crowds

Just for a moment I want you to imagine a huge mansion that you have been invited to for a party.  This place is amazing!  The landscaping is perfect, gold and white stairs leading into a gorgeous ballroom from which you can hear them playing your favorite music.  But, you see people standing around outside and ask them why they aren’t going into the party?  They have all sorts of answers. 

1. Oh, I don’t like what’s on the menu. 
2. I don’t like to hang out with people like that. 
3. I’m too busy. 
4. I’ve got a lot of important matters on my mind.
5. I’ll go inside eventually, I’ve got plenty of time.

Then all the sudden it happens:

“²⁵ the master of the house gets up and shuts the door.”

That’s it.  No matter how hard these people knock, none of these excuse makers are getting in.

This is the scene Jesus depicts in the parable.

“²⁵ Once the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open for us!’ He will tell you in reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.”

We get the point.  When God shuts the door there will be some on the inside in heaven and some on the outside in hell.  Jesus is giving the answer to

“²³ Someone said to him, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” 

We don’t want to be caught going through the door of CARE-LESS-ness.  Rather, we want to go through the door that lead to eternal joy with God in heaven.  Go Through The Right Door and Don’t Follow The Crowds who think they have plenty of time or it isn’t a high priority.

This raises the most important question!  How do we know for sure that we are going through the right door to heaven?  Let’s go to Jesus and listen to his teaching.  Some in the crowd outside were knocking and saying, “‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’”

The point:  A passing acquaintance with the homeowner doesn’t get you in.  That would be like having dinner at Bob’s Steak and Chop House and meeting Jerry Jones and expecting that he will give you tickets to his suite at the Cowboys football game.  That’s not happening.  Likewise, just knowing who Jesus is doesn’t get a person into heaven.  There were many Jewish people who saw Jesus, ate with him and listened to his teachings, but if they didn’t trust his Words that he was their only hope for getting into heaven, they would find themselves on the outside knocking. Even the devil knows who Jesus is, but his relationship with Jesus is not a saving one as James says,

“¹⁹ You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder!”

James 2:19

There is only one certain way of getting into heaven.  That is through Jesus who said,

“I am the door. Whoever enters through me will be saved”

John 10:9

Also,

“I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me”

John 14:6

I know, it is easy for us to sit and think, “I’ve heard all this before!” That sounds like CARE-LESS-ness and is reflected in a poor worship & prayer life with a Bible at home that is gathering dust. Let’s not Follow The Crowd with a complacent life that is going through the wrong door!  For through that door you will find all sorts of the devil’s lies such as, “I’m sure glad I’m not such a bad sinner!”  or “God must be pleased with me for trying to live a good life.”  Or “At least I go to church.  What more does God expect from me?”  Careful!  The floor gets very slippery behind the devil’s door!  “I can abuse alcohol a just a little bit.”  Or “If I tell this little lie it doesn’t really matter.”  Or “I’m faithful with most things, so just a little dip in the pool of porn is no big deal.”  No big deal?  Wake up!  You’re following the Crowd Through The Wrong Door!

Rather, Follow Jesus!  Come to grips with your own sins and you will come to appreciate even more the perfect life of Jesus—the only Right Door To Heaven!  Throw your sins, your slips and your stumbling’s at the foot of the cross where Jesus’ blood covers them all.  Turn from the door of CARE-LESS-ness to the door of Salvation—Jesus Christ.  Raise you voice in thanksgiving and confess with the Apostle Paul,

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But I was shown mercy for this reason: that in me, the worst sinner, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his unlimited patience as an example for those who are going to believe in him, resulting in eternal life”

1 Timothy 1:15-16

Go Through The Right Door That May Not Follow The Crowds, but

That Takes You Beyond The Clouds

Hearing this wonderful proclamation gets us all excited, doesn’t it?  Well, let’s also be aware that CARE-FULL-ness in anticipating our end may also be used by Satan to distract us.  Let me use this little illustration.  Mary loved going to the shows in New York.  One day a friend gave her tickets to a Broadway show.  She carefully put the tickets into her safe at home and noticed the key to the safe was bent, so she headed to the hardware store to get a new key.  On the way she noticed the change oil light came on so she headed to the mechanic to get the oil changed.  While waiting she noticed how dirty her car was so next it was off to the car wash.  While going through the car wash, she noticed that her nails needed to be done.  Once her nails were done she realized that she needed a new dress and went shopping!  Do you know what happened?  She was so busy getting ready for the show, she missed her show.

You get my point. Jesus said,

“²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.”  

When we are distracted from the narrow door and get all wrapped up in the activities of life, even godly activities, then we are tempted to lose sight of the ultimate goal.  While we don’t want to be CARE-LESS, neither to we want to be so CARE-FILLED that we lose sight of the most important thing.  Thank the Lord he creates a longing for heaven in us using a very unique technique. Jesus explains the technique to raise our awareness and put us on our guard.  He said,

“²⁷ And he will say, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ ²⁸ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown outside.” 

People on the outside in hell are not only separated from loved ones, but the worst is being separated from God’s love and only experiencing the eternal wrath of God.  The fires of hell will clear up the worldly CARE-FULL clouds for our sinful nature to fear, but what about our New Man in Christ?

To keep our balance in life by avoiding sin through the law, he also creates a longing for heaven through the gospel! Look through the clouds into the window of heaven and Jesus gives us this picture.

“²⁹ People will come from east and west, from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.”

There we see people in heaven with unending joy, peace, safety, protection and seeing Jesus face to face in all his glory!  This inspires us to Go Through The Right Door That Takes Us Beyond the Clouds to the glory of God!

As long as we live on this earth we are going to make choices about going through doors concerning fashion, education and politics.  Today Jesus gives us the right directions so we aren’t CARE-LESS or so CARE-FILLed that we walk through the wrong door.  Rather, walk with God’s people as you Go Through The Right Door—Jesus!  Amen!