Heaven's Door

I exercise five days a week. While I cannot claim that I get enjoyment from the routine, I realize it is necessary to maintain overall good health. My exercise regimen starts in my basement with my cardio vascular workout, rotating through my stationary bike, elliptical, and treadmill. I complete my morning routine in our upstairs guest bedroom where I engage in weight bearing, balance, and stretching exercises. One morning upon completing my cardio workout I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at the basement door. On the inside of the door is a shoe rack on which is hanging various styles and colors of shoes. At that point a thought came to me. I know what lies on the other side of my basement door, but what will I see on the other side of heaven's door? I thought about a few Old and New Testament images related to stairs and doorways. In Genesis 28, Jacob has a dream at Bethel. "Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." (Genesis 28:10-12 NIV) In John 10:7-9, Jesus states, "...Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture." NIV (in some versions the word "door" is used instead of "gate.") 

A Stairway To Heaven

I imagined those basement steps as a stairway leading to heaven, a stairway I would one day climb. Those shoes hanging on that door rack represented all those who had gone to heaven before me. Prior to opening that door, they leave their shoes behind as the ground that their feet will be touching after walking through will be holy ground. When God called Moses from the burning bush He declared, "Do not come any closer, God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." (Genesis 3:5 NIV) The image in my mind is both a comfort and a challenge. What a comfort it will be when I will finally see the Savior's face! No longer a mystery but finally coming to understand all that was veiled while on earth. "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV) On the other hand, there is the challenge of waiting and persevering until I am called to walk through that door. "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12 NIV) What is on the other side of the door that you will walk through at the end of your life? I pray it will be holy ground.
Shalom,
Pastor Sheree