Let's Make A Deal? Which Door?

LET’S MAKE A DEAL? FINDING THE OPEN DOOR…

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

THE LATCH STRING…

My Grandfather Hughes was born in 1878 in Lee County, Kentucky. The house was known as THE SUSAN HUGHES HOUSE. It was built in the early 1850’s. It was a log cabin. When I was young, mid-1950’s, I noticed there was no door knob on the entrance door. There was a hole through the door. Then there was a long leather string that would hang through the hole. When you wanted to go in the house, you pulled the leather string which was attached to a piece of wood. As you pulled the string it would lift the wood plank out of the “holster” in which it would rest, thus unlocking the door and granting you access. At night my grandparents would pull the piece of leather inside and the door could not be opened.

Thus they had an expression that they would share with friends. THE LATCH STRING WILL ALWAYS BE OUT FOR YOU!

Do we allow the LATCH STRING TO OUR HEARTS TO HANG out for JESUS?

BEHOLD I STAND AT THE DOOR AND I KNOCK… CAN WE HEAR HIS VOICE?

THERE IS A FAMOUS PICTURE OF CHRIST JESUS STANDING AT THE DOOR KNOCKING… When this famous piece of art was placed on public display many art critics found great fault with the picture. The critics pointed out THERE IS NO DOOR KNOB ON THE DOOR. The artist replied to the crowd. There is a verse in the Bible that explains this picture.

Revelation 3:20 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.

Jesus is a gentleman, HE WOULD NEVER FORCE OPEN YOUR DOOR. IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE AND RECOGNIZE IT YOU WILL OPEN THE DOOR AND JESUS WILL GLADLY COME TO DWELL WITH YOU. JESUS NEEDS THE INVITATION TO COME…

UNDERSTAND A SHEEPCOTE --- JESUS IS OUR DOOR…

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

A sheepcote is a method of tending animals. The sheepcote is a type of pen for confining animals. There could be a great danger of your sheep being stolen or a big bad wolf might be lurking to kill. Often the simple enclosures had thorny brushwood growing on top of the low wall to be a safe guard. The GOOD SHEPHERD would sleep across the entrance. Sheepcotes are mentioned and referred to several times in the Bible.

THUS WE GET JESUS IS THE DOOR GUARDING HIS SHEEP…

THERE IS ONLY ONE DOOR, ONE WAY… ANOTHER NOTE ABOUT THE BIBLICAL DOOR…

We live in a day of tolerance and acceptance, TV teaches there are many ways to God. NOT SO MY FRIEND!

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Linda and I were walking near where JESUS WAS BORN. Mickey, our guide, explained about the houses in New Testament times. Normally the lower part of the house was where the animals were kept. The upper deck was the living quarters of the family. (Remember the story of the lady that kept knocking on the door, desiring bread. The owner did not want to awaken his children, if she continued knocking she would wake up the chickens and cows and then the kids.)

THE NEW TESTAMENT DOOR was a big door often left open in the day. When the family and the animals were gathered in the big door was closed. Within the big door was a small door, that would be opened and closed to allow people entrance at night.

The small door was great protection to the family. As a person entered the small door they had to step high and they also had to duck low. If an enemy meaning to bring harm tried to gain entrance at night, it was easy to defend the entrance. A simple stick could stop entrance to the home.

GREAT PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE MADE DEALS AND FOUND OPEN DOORS AND THEY CLIMBED THROUGH TO FIND GOD’S PLAN.

Have you ever searched for an open door to a safe place where we can stretch our faith to a new levels… We must learn to walk by faith and not by emotions, moods or sight.

My friend there are two kinds of doors:

1. Open doors…

2. Closed doors… DO WE UNDERSTAND WHY WE MUST IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCE IN OPEN OR CLOSED DOORS.

GOD SAW A MAN IN AVERY DANGEROUS POSITION. ALL AROUND ABRAHAM WAS FACING PAGAN IDOLATRY… TO FIND GOD’S OPEN DOOR ABRAM HAD TO SELL OUT AND LEAVE…