p. 681 | THE DOOR by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 23, 1900

THE DOOR.

By Uriah Smith

The most important and precious doctrines of Christ are stated in the plainest and simplest manner. Thus Christ says of himself, “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9.

All know what a door is; no one needs to explain its uses. It is a common object. We have them on every hand. Every dwelling we pass, every room we enter, has its doors. They are what make all places not only convenient, but even habitable. So Christ desires us to acquaint ourselves with him, as a familiar object, and have us understand that he can be found everywhere. As often as we see, or are reminded of, a door or its uses, so often would Christ have us think of him.

He is “the door of the sheep,” the door of the true fold. The door of a sheepfold is often a very humble affair. It makes no pretension to grandeur or display. But it is just as useful, nevertheless, to give the sheep free access to the fold. So the Lord is willing to condescend to any position, that he may give help, may serve and save his people.

By this subject our minds are thrown back upon the terrible alternative that was thrust upon the world by man’s sin, when he transgressed the law of God, and alienated himself from the true fold of God, and had no power of himself to return. What if there could not have been found one to be a door, or to open a door, back to the fold?—Then never could peace, purity, union with God, salvation, and heaven have been ours.

And while our hearts are filled with gratitude because of this door, let us remember that it is the only door, and not weary ourselves trying to find some other. He who would climb up some other way is a thief and a robber. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

There is personality in the promise. The Lord Jesus is himself the door. It is not imposing ceremonies, nor elaborate forms, nor high professions, nor the great attainments we have made, nor the achievements we have accomplished, that constitute the door. But it is the Lord himself. He alone provides the blood which cleanses from all sin.

As a door, he is adapted to the work he has undertaken. He unites God and man, and opens the door in both directions. As the Son of man, he opens the door earthward; and as the divine and only begotten Son of God, he opens the door heavenward. He is the one Mediator between God and man. 1 Tim. 2:5.

His words, “I am,” have the same elements of essential existence and eternity of being as the words of Jehovah to Moses. Ex. 3:14. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” In this respect the present age is as blessed as any that has passed away. We can still come to the Father through him. Heb. 7:25. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,”

Those who avail themselves of these promises, and use their provisions, are not merely onlookers and careless observers. They do not sit and loiter idly before the door, nor do they stand, like soldiers on guard, pacing before the door; but they enter in, by faith, love, experience, and communion. Those who are invited to enter in are not placed under restrictions, or conditions, as a requisite of receiving the call. It is not, if you can come presenting certain qualifications, as of riches, of rank, of education, of influence, or power, social, political, or military, you can enter in. Oh, no. Not the lords and ladies are spoken of. But it is “any man.” “By me if any man enter in he shall be saved.” Having passed this point, they have one distinguishing characteristic: they have the mark of having “entered.” As to persons, it is general—any man; but as to the essential qualification to a title to the promises, it is those who “enter in.” This excludes character previously acquired as a fitness to enter in. It requires no special degree of feeling, either of grief or joy, as a prerequisite. As an act of acceptance, no other action than that of entering in is called for.

There is every feature about this door to show that it is to be made the most free and most liberal use of. A door may be marked “Private,” and most persons would think themselves restricted from entering it. But a door conspicuously labeled “The Door” is to be used openly and freely by all. When we see a bold sign erected, saying, “This Is the Way,” we have confidence to believe that some one placed it there who knew whereof he affirmed, and we do not expect to be misled by walking therein. The wonderful advertisement by Christ, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” and the special promises to those who walk in that way, and accept of that truth, and receive that life, constitute the most remarkable and liberal invitation that can be imagined. No one ever yet had occasion to say, nor ever will have, “I followed Christ, and found that I had made a mistake. I ‘entered in,’ and was disappointed.” Come along, then, all ye who desire to enter into life.

“Here see the Bread of Life; see waters flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from above; Come to the feast of love—come, ever knowing Earth has no sorrow but heaven can remove.”

Recount the privileges that belong to those who accept these offers, and enter in by the door. They belong alike to all those who enter in.

1. Salvation is assured. “He shall be saved;” saved as much as one can be saved in this present state, and saved eternally hereafter.

2. He is crowned with liberty. “He shall go in and out.” It is no prison door into which he enters. It is a door through which the flock enters, whose shepherd gives them freedom, the full freedom to enter and to have egress at pleasure. He shall “go in and out.” He shall go in, with the opportunity of pleading with the Lord, of hiding in his name as in a strong fortress, sheltered by impregnable defenses, of fellowship. “Our fellowship,” says the apostle, “is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ,” and is for instruction. The word of God, says Paul to Timothy, “is profitable for . . . instruction in righteousness,” and finally, for enjoyment. “Rejoice in the Lord alway,” Paul instructed the Christians at Philippi, then gave it a double emphasis, by adding, “And again I say, Rejoice.”

3. Nourishment. “And find pasture.” Our spiritual food and nourishment is found in Christ, and comes from Christ. Is there anything lacking in this list of privileges to which we have access when we enter in by Christ? To be “saved,” to go “in and out,” and to “find pasture,”—what more could one have? On this verse J. C. Ryle says: “The expression, to go in and out, implies a habit of using familiarly a dwelling, and treating it as a home. It expresses beautifully the habitual communion and happy intercourse with Christ, which a true believer enjoys. The finding pasture implies the satisfaction, comfort, and refreshment of soul, which everyone who uses Christ as his door into heaven shall experience.”

A door so freely opened, and so easy of access, we need not fear to approach. We have not to climb over some difficult obstruction, nor scale

some dizzy height, to reach the door; because for the very purpose of making the way pleasant and easy, a door was opened through every obstacle, and all private secretaries and middlemen removed.

The work of the Reformation was thus described by Stern, a German statesman: “Thank heaven, Dr. Luther has made the entrance into heaven somewhat shorter, by dismissing a crowd of doorkeepers, and chamberlains, and masters of ceremonies.”

C. H. Spurgeon draws up the following conclusions: “Since Jesus glories that he is the door, let us not hesitate to use him in that capacity. Let us hasten to enter in by him into peace, life, rest, holiness. When we see it written in large characters, ‘THIS IS THE WAY,’ we do not fear that we shall trespass if we follow it. What is a way for but to be followed? What is a door for but to be passed through? Say that a doorway is never passed, and you say that it is useless. Why not brick it up? It would be no honor to the Lord Jesus for sinners to be so in awe of him as never to come to God by him; but he delights in being evermore our way of access.” U. S.