Grace For The Journey

  The Bible says in Revelations 3:7, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy; He who is true,; He who had the key of David; He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.’”

Our God is the keeper of the gate into glory.  It is God who holds the key that unlocks the door leading to eternal life, and it is God who locks it behind us, keeping all who have entered eternally safe.  This is the words of encouragement and comfort not only given to church in Philadelphia about God’s sovereign power and purpose.  It is also a great word to believers today.

Here some incredible implications of this verse:

Salvation is rooted in . . .

• God’s mercy – not our merit
• God’s grace – not our good works
• God’s good pleasure – not our posturing

The gate that allows access into eternal life is opened by God and God alone . . .

• He is the one who extends His invitation;
• He is the one who offers His mercy;
• He is the one who pours out His grace on His adopted children.

When we receive God’s offer of salvation, by grace through faith, we can be assured that our home in heaven is irrevocably secured (Romans 11:29).

In addition . . .

The same gate that allows access into eternal life is closed and secured by God too.

What this means is that eternal life is assured and judgment is certain.  

You see, today is a day of invitation

For all those who stand outside the gate.

God in Christ has extended His invitation to everyone who will trust in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life.  The promise is eternal life for those who will abandon their self-salvation projects and transfer their trust to the Savior.  Jesus calls to all who will hear: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

The frightening flip side of this truth, however, is this:

Tomorrow may not be a day of invitation,

Because tomorrow may be that day

When we breathe our last and

The gate leading to eternal life

Is shut forever.

So, if you have acknowledged yourself to be a sinner in need of a Savior and have transferred your trust to Jesus Christ, rejoice!  Know that a banquet is being prepared for you this day; and one day soon you will be sitting at table with Jesus Christ.

To know that your salvation is secure is to know that there is nothing in the entire universe that can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39) – not your sins in the past . . . nor your sins in the future . . . not Satan . . . nothing!  The door that was opened for you by your Savior has also been closed and locked behind you.  You couldn’t turn around and walk back out again even if you wanted to!  You are held securely and eternally in the hand of your Savior (John 10:28).

Does that truth not

Fill you with unimaginable strength

For the day ahead?

If Jesus has the ultimate authority as the keeper of the gate, He is absolutely sovereign over every detail of your life.  Nothing happens to you that doesn’t first pass through His nail-scarred hands.  And everything that happens to you, no matter how wonderful or dreadful it may seem in the moment, is taking place for two reasons:

God’s glory

And

Your eternal good.

Christian, you are held securely by the Keeper of the gate . . . you have His word on it!

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”