By Robin Sam
THE Bible talks about gates and doors. The book of Nehemiah talks in detail about who built which portion of the wall of Jerusalem and repaired gates near it. In Revelation 3, Jesus promised the church at Philadelphia to set before it an open door that no one can shut. An open door is a gateway to blessings, communion with God and fellowship with men
There are three gates the Bible talks about that believers need to enter and pass through.
1. The City Gate: The door of authority
The city gate is a doorway of power and authority, one that speaks blessings upon one’s life. In Ruth 4, we read: ‘And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem’ (verse 11).
To witness a solemn event, Boaz had invited 10 men who had assembled at the city gate in Bethlehem on that day he decided to meet the nearest kin of Naomi. Those who had assembled at the city gate were not loafers but elders, men of authority. They were not hangers-on who were there to kill time or watch a spectacle. They were at the city gate to be witnesses of an epoch-making event. Boaz made an offer to the nearest of Naomi’s kin, but he did not take it up because it came with inconvenient baggage. Buying Naomi’s inheritance meant taking Ruth as his wife, but the nearest of the kin was just not ready for it. Marrying and perpetuating the name of the dead husband and father in law of Ruth meant spoiling his own inheritance. When he backed out, Boaz took it upon himself to redeem the right of redemption. Such a solemn event could not be held in the confines of a house; it had to be played out at the city gate, where elders who had authority held their sway.
It is my prayer that just like Boaz entered the city gate, the door of authority, you will enter the gates of authority this year. Gates that witness solemn events, adjudicate over important transactions and profess blessings upon your life.
2. The Ancient Gates: Doors of glory
The ancient gates are doorways to places where once the glory of God descended from Heaven. David talks about the hill of the Lord and His holy place in Psalm 24. And, then in verse 7, he says: Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.’ NKJV calls ancient gates everlasting doors. It does not mean those places will never be destroyed but they were once doorways through which people saw and felt the presence of the Lord. Only those who have sought and received the forgiveness of the Lord and left all their wicked and devious ways can enter through the ancient gates, the doors of glory. Only such as the pure in heart can ascend His holy hill. Those who enter the ancient gates have a spirit of worship for they have seen the presence of God. They are not despondent or dejected because they have seen what the glory of the Lord can do in their lives.
It is my prayer that just as David recognized the ancient gates when he saw them, you will also sense the presence of God in the daily humdrum of your life. The earth and its fullness, the world and all those who dwell in it are the Lord’s What a wonderful place to be. In the glory of His majesty. Let His glory go before you all the days of your life is my prayer.
3. The Narrow Gate – the path to eternal life
‘Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.’ (Matthew 7:13-14).
The narrow gate is the only way to enter eternity. It is the way that leads to eternal life. Life that is so rich in its array of blessings and abundant in the provisions of Heaven. Unfortunately only a few find it, Jesus said. Entering the narrow gate means accepting to live a life that is sacred and pleasing to God. It means saying goodbye to old ways – of deceit, two-timing, lasciviousness, debauchery, craftiness, manipulation and profanity. Entering the narrow gate means dying to self, daily taking up the cross and following Jesus.
Pray that we enter all these three gates in our lifetime. May the good Lord help and equip us to walk with our heads held high at the city gate, the ancient gates and the narrow gate! In Jesus’ Name. Amen. Read more from Robin Sam
The writer is the editor of The Christian Messenger magazine and pastor of the Messenger Missions Church in Chennai.
