Locked Doors!
Each night before Kim and I go to bed, like many of you, we check to make sure we have locked the doors to our home. After all, we don’t want to allow an intruder to enter in the middle of the night. We don’t want to give access to someone who ought not be entering our home and who may even want to cause us harm. On the other hand, if we are expecting someone that we want to enter—e.g., a friend, our kids—we may leave the door unlocked. After all, locked doors are meant to keep out the “bad guys” not the “good guys!”
As I read the biblical accounts of the first Palm Sunday, I can’t help but notice that there were those there that day who had, we might say, left the doors to their hearts and lives unlocked for Jesus, while others had closed and locked them. Some were glad for his arrival; others not so much.
As Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey, his disciples are waving palm branches and crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Their hearts were open, thus the joy and the praise. We then read of the streets of Jerusalem becoming filled with crowds of people looking on to see what all the commotion is about. Some join in the praise, even laying down garments on the street before him. Some are asking, “Who is this?” Others are angry at the praise Jesus is receiving. It becomes obvious that some have hearts that are open to receive him as their King, Messiah, and Savior. Others have hardened their hearts towards him and locked the doors to their lives, unwilling to let him enter; in fact, they can’t wait to get rid of him.
It’s a picture of Jesus wanting to come into our lives. He knocks, waiting for us to unlock and open the door. He does not barge in nor force himself in. Rather he knocks and waits for us to respond. Thus the question becomes, have we? Will we? Or will we lock the doors of our hearts to him and keep him out?
I want to encourage you, as we enter this “holy week,” to make sure the door to your heart and life is unlocked and open to Jesus. After all, he is the One who came to die for your sin, rose from the dead, and who will one day come again in glory! And he is the One who, when he enters brings with him the salvation, grace, mercy, love, and blessing of God.
Hear the psalmist’s words:
“Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle.
Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies—he is the King of glory.”
(Psalm 24:7-10 – NLT)
Have a great day and a blessed Holy Week!
- Pastor Tim Harris
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