The Daily Word: Sunday, November 22nd, 2020
Ezekiel 44:1-45:12
1 Peter 1:1-12
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 28:8-10
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.” – Ezek. 44:1-2
God took Ezekiel to the outer gate of the sanctuary – the gate to the temple at Jerusalem – in a vision. In the vision, the gate was shut. God explained: “It shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the LORD God of Israel has entered by it.” The way of God is so holy and so perfect that no man can follow where He has gone. This poses a problem if you want to end up in Heaven when you die, because Scripture is saying it is impossible for us to follow God to Heaven! We cannot go where He has gone because the gate is shut behind Him!
But Jesus came and opened the gate:
“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. – Matt. 7:13-14
Apart from Jesus, you cannot enter the gate! But in Him and only in Him, you can follow where God has gone. Jesus died on the cross and conquered the grave – He “took captivity captive” (Eph. 4:8) – so that you could pass through the gate that formerly would have been impassible.
Outside of Jesus, you are shut out from Heaven! But in Him, Heaven makes a home inside of you.
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” – Jn. 10:9
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the gift of salvation! Thank You for allowing me to enter the gate. I’m so thankful that I have safe passage in Jesus Christ! Thank You for the gift of eternal life in Heaven, in Jesus’ name.
© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.