Entering in at the Door.
By T. E. Bowen
JESUS said, "I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture." In these beautiful words are set forth the perfect freedom and liberty of the true child of God. He that hath truly entered in by Christ, may enjoy all this freedom to go in and come out and feed continuously in the green pastures that the Good Shepherd has provided for His flock. But the difficulty lies in getting in at the Door. It is simple and easy, if undertaken in God's appointed way; while it is utterly impossible, if undertaken in any other way. Many are so unwilling to heed the instruction to enter in by the Door, that they fail entirely of entering in, or, perchance, brand themselves as thieves and robbers by seeking to climb up some other way. It will be noticed that Jesus uses the significant expression of "climbeth up," regarding those who seek to get in by some other way. This suggests at once that many are unsatisfied with the conditions of entering in by the Door. They consider it too humiliating—beneath them. They must "climb up," put forth some distinguished effort of their own, in order to get in. But God has made no mistake in placing the Door. It is amply large to let in any sin-sick, repentant lost one, but no one big with self can find admittance. "I am the door." No Pharisee can enter. No one filled with self-esteem is admitted. No rich man, counting on his wealth as an asset for entrance, can come in. No person, trusting in his morality, any inherent goodness he may think to possess, will be welcomed by the humble Shepherd. No false accuser of his brethren, no liar, no dishonest or deceitful person, can enter. It is useless to offer a bribe, for that Holy One can not be swerved in any manner by the richest of earth's gifts. Ah! there is but one way—to fall at His feet, and say what the publican of old said: "Be merciful to me, a sinner." This sincere cry for help is immediately recognized by the true Shepherd. It is the cry of distress. As the helpless call of the babe in distress reaches the ear of the mother, so this cry reaches the trained ear of Him who was sent to seek and to save the lost; and no soul ever yet touched this self-surrendered chord who was refused. This is entering "by the Door" into the fold. Peter entered that chilly morning of his Master's betrayal, when he turned aside after denying his Lord, and wept bitterly, confessing his sin. The repentant one entered when she found herself alone with the Sinless One, her accusers all having departed; and thru her tears looked up into the peaceful face of her Deliverer, and saw His kind look when He spoke the forgiveness of her sins in the words, "Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from henceforth sin no more." Paul was admitted when he reached that place in his experience where he could say, "Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ." Phil. 3:7, 8. God has purposed that Christ alone shall be exalted. His name must stand above every other name. Those unwilling to yield their wills to the will of the Father proclaim themselves unworthy of the joys of companionship with those within the fold, and, more than this, reveal that they are unacquainted with the lovely character of the Shepherd who gave Himself for the sheep. Jesus waits to give entrance to all who in contriteness of heart seek admittance. He has given those within the fold the precious privilege of "going out," that they may enter into the joy with Him of seeking for and gathering other lost ones into the sheltered place of His presence, where there is found such an abundance of peace and joy and rest, before the storm-cloud bursts without. It is His will that they also "may have life, and may have it abundantly." Reader, have you entered in by the Door? Have you experienced the joy of a full self-surrender for Christ? If not, you have not yet really lived at all. You are feeding upon husks. Your life is vain. You are lost. Why trust longer in such a vain hope? Why not surrender that proud, deceitful heart, and receive in exchange a new, clean one? May God's Spirit not leave you until you make the wise choice of yielding your worthless, sinful life, and receiving in its place all that Heaven has for you.