A man I admired viewed life from a unique perspective. While his viewpoint was typical of many from the Greatest Generation living through one of the most momentous periods in history, including the tough times of the Great Depression, World War II, the cultural shift of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and the breakdown of discipline, he seemed to never waiver from the idea that we’re all standing in a very long line just waiting for the next announcement to “move up one.” He was referring to a line that ultimately leads to a door, or as Alexander Barclay, a 14th-century poet and clergyman said, “Death’s Door.” Sometimes, we look up after the most recent announcement to move up, and we’re much closer to that door than we expected. For some, the door seems far off in the distance, and then suddenly very next day, we find ourselves at the front of the line. This might be what a crime victim discovers, or when a doctor gives us an unexpected diagnosis, or even when a celebrity, expecting that life to be long and prosperous decides to end it all quickly.
It’s not surprising that most people don’t think about it and would rather just consider that the line is long, and the door is far away. They can’t even see it, at least not today. The line and the door are, in fact, completely unavoidable. We’re all in that line, and the door is approaching. The question is not whether we want to think about it, it is about what is on the other side of that door, Death’s Door. After all, no one walks with you up to the door, opens it, or walks through it with you. You are solely alone and you are the only one seeing what’s on the other side. Surprisingly, the majority of people think that there is nothing on the other side. It’s just over, that’s it. Some, believe that whatever it is, it’s all good and we shouldn’t worry about it. People of various faiths, Judaism, Mormons, Islam, Buddhists, Hindus, Shintos, Humanists and other spiritually oriented souls have their unique expectations based on their doctrine. But all of these religions believe that whatever happens when you walk through that door, the outcome will be based on how you lived your life. And that is too bad because many people, maybe even the majority, can’t get it perfect all of the time. Christianity, on the other hand, is the only religion that believes differently from all the rest because it’s not about what we do, but what He (Jesus) did. But, what is on the other side of that door for Christians?
Jesus said, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:16-20 NLT
He also said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (Jesus). There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4 NLT
Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NLT
I believe the most important thing Jesus said was, “You must love the Lord you God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 NLT
We also know, that once we walk through that door, there is no doorknob on the other side and no way out. For non-Christians, that door represents an uncertain outcome, based on what they did or didn’t do. The door for Christians represents a pathway to all that Jesus said, forever, and eternity. The Bible describes walking through the door without Jesus as a different pathway, one that leads us to a place without the light of the Lord. A place of nothing or an existence of total darkness, suffering, and torment, forever. While “The Door” may be far off in the future for you today, it could appear at any moment. So consider this, who would you like to see on the other side greeting you, Jesus, or nothing or utter darkness and suffering? Maybe it’s time to ask, which outcome do we believe is true?
