Knock, knock…who’s there?
by davidnliney on Feb.18, 2010, under All
Some months ago, we learned a new song at church:
I’D RATHER BE A KEEPER OF THE DOOR
AND KNOW THE POWER OF YOUR PRESENCE LORD
TO BE ABLE TO GAIN ENTRANCE
RIGHT INTO YOUR HOLY PRESENCE
I’D RATHER BE A KEEPER OF THE DOOR
ONE THING I ASK AND I WOULD SEEK
TO DRINK THE WATERS FROM YOUR LIVING WELL
MY HEART AND FLESH CRY OUT OH GOD
TO KNOW YOU IN THE PLACE YOUR GLORY DWELLS
I WOULD LET THE DOOR SWING WIDE INVITING EVERYONE TO ENTER IN
SHINE THE LIGHT AND SHOW THE WAY (Song by Josh Dufrene, David Binion)
That song brought a whole new meaning to the Scripture found in Psalm 84: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. I had always taken that to mean “I’d rather take the lowly role of being a doorman in God’s house…” or “If I can just stand at the threshold of His house…” Humble, but that’s not what it entails.
In John 10, Jesus declares: “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” If Jesus is the Door, and we are the Keepers-what does that mean? It means if we don’t open the door for people, they will never enter in…
2 Kings 22 shows us that the keepers of the door were ranked right behind the high priest and the priests. They kept watch at the doors. They made sure nothing unclean entered in. Doorkeepers collected money for the temple and threw out anything idolatrous.
In I Samuel, we read that Eli sat at the door of the temple-it was there that he observed Hannah praying. But we read of Samuel, Hannah’s offspring, that he woke up in the morning and opened the doors of the temple. As you progress in ministry, you may come across some Eli’s: they’re sitting-they let others open the doors; they will die sitting-sometimes falling backward.
But we must open the Door. Open them every chance you get. Take advantage of every opportunity to take people beyond the veil. Bring them to the door. May we never get too big to remember that our highest calling is to stand at that door and when the Shepherd’s voice comes, open it so that His sheep can enter in and find pasture.
Twenty-four years ago, I left home with a Bible and a toothbrush…to become a doorkeeper. That job has taken me to Central America, the Caribbean, Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia, the projects of NY, the streets of NJ, the homes of the lost and forgotten, the affluent and broken, the huts of former cannibals and the playgrounds of fatherless children.
We are Keepers of the Door–Guardians of His presence, Custodians of His courts, Curators of His majesty. We hold such power in our hands today-never exploit it, lord it, or abuse it. Hold that handle with sacred honor and unsullied purity.
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. Keep your eyes focused there, on that open Door and may His kingdom come, may His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let’s go forth, grip that handle, swing it wide, and bid them enter…Let’s go, they’re waiting.
