ENTERING THROUGH THE GATES -- Monday:
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Revelation 22:14)
This is another aspect of the righteousness, or rightness, of the saved being in glory. There is a sense in which we are "not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth" that has been shown unto us (Gen 32:10). Our acceptance with God cannot, in any sense, be traced to our own merits. Salvation is not a reward for being good, but a gift to those who have NOT been good.
Yet, salvation itself is right! Because of the vicarious death of Christ, it is RIGHT for God to save us. He is now not only the "Justifier," but He is "just," or righteous, in being so. Thus it is written, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom 3:25-26). Who can fail to see the emphasis on Deity! God has taken care to bring us a salvation that allows Him to remain righteous, although He acquits the unrighteous! Our text declares one of the results of this right salvation.
The idea is of a triumphal procession, as when victors return from the battle. When the saints of God make their grand entrance into the presence of the Lord, the 100th Psalm will be fulfilled in the redeemed, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name" (v 4). Isaiah's word will also be fully realized, "Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in" (Isa 26:2).
These heavenly "gates" do not allow for the entrance of sinful men. The only Man who has fully entered through them is "the Man Christ Jesus," also called "the King of glory." Even then, there was a heavenly interrogation before He could enter, for never before had a man had such a glorious entrance, or triumphal entry. The 24th Psalm prophesied of the entrance of our Savior into the heavenly chambers, and of the lofty dialogue that attended that entrance (Psa 24:7-10). Our text confirms Christ's entrance was a prelude to our own. Because of Him, and our faith in Him, we too will "enter in through the gates into the city."
The glory of that entrance can scarcely be imagined, yet we do well to make every attempt to picture it. The anticipation of this entrance will produce an incentive to "DO" His commandments, and to keep your garments washed and clean. This is nothing less than the "abundant entrance" mentioned by the Holy spirit. "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 1:10-11).
This speaks of a glorious entrance, a public entrance, and a joyful one. The saints lived in anticipation of it, maintaining an acute sensitivity to their Lord and His will. They will be rewarded for their diligence. This is an entrance that will be "ministered" to us. It is as though we will be escorted into the presence of the Lord with exclamations of praise, declaring we are the work of the Lord, to the glory of His grace. Then we will receive such attention and praise as we have never known in this wretched world. That, dear brothers and sisters, is worth laboring and waiting for!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the anticipation of an abundant entrance into Your presence.