John 10:1-2 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
In our modern technological world, the issue of authentication is paramount for the protection of our identity and personal information. Whether by password, PIN, voice recognition, thumb / hand print, iris scan, or even chip, an individual virtually does not exist without verification of identity.
This is no less true regarding spiritual matters?
Jesus shared a beautiful parable with his disciples in which He referred to the “good shepherd.” After delivering the parable in John 10:1-5, Christ began explaining His association with it. Oddly, Jesus said two things about Himself, “I am the door of the sheep,” and “I am the good shepherd.” He repeated each claim twice, emphasizing the importance.
First, He stated, “I am the door of the sheep.” (vs. 7 & 9) What did that signify? Well, for those who have ever moved from one residence to another, you realize the contents of your home are restricted by the size and shape of the door you pass through. If the refrigerator is too large for the doorway, then you get a different refrigerator! Whether we’re talking about houses, computers, human cells or the Kingdom of God, the unique demands of the “portal” determine what passes from one side to the other.
Twice Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep,” signifying that God’s plan was purposely selective. Although, in times past, God spoke to us in different ways, yet in these last days His divine will is exclusively revealed through His Son, who is “the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of God’s person.” (Hebrews 1:3) Thus, as the “door of the sheep,” Christ is the intricately restrictive standard by whom all other claimants are judged. Jesus said, “All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers,” because they did not fit the parameters of God’s restriction for “The Door!”
So, do you think people can go to Heaven any other way than faith in Jesus Christ? Think again because it “ain’t” happenin’. Square pegs do not fit in round holes. You know that without the right password, PIN, voice recognition, thumb / hand print, iris scan, or chip, you CANNOT access sensitive information. Likewise, you will NOT go to Heaven unless you fit through God’s restrictive door… Jesus Christ! Trust me, there will be NO hackers in Heaven.
After identifying Himself as God’s unique standard for “the door,” Jesus then stated, “I am the good shepherd.” Only the Good Shepherd had the ability to access the sheep by going through “The Door.” Jesus was God’s original pattern in the beginning (John 1:1-3) and also the fulfillment of that same design in the end. Jesus said of Himself, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end!” (Revelation 1:8) The real implication for the parable of the Good Shepherd is that Jesus is the lock God originally designed for the entrance of Heaven, and Jesus is also the ONLY key God created to fit that same lock!
Finally, there are the sheep; however, these are not ordinary sheep. Why? Jesus calls these individuals, “his own sheep,” or “my sheep.” (vs 4 & 14) These are the Elect, those chosen for salvation with their names written in the Book of Life from the very beginning of Creation. Just as Jesus was the Lamb that God picked to be slain from the foundation of the world ( Rev. 13:8), the Elect have also been predestined for salvation from the foundation of the world (Rev. 17:8). This is why True Believers clearly hear the Good Shepherd’s voice. They ignore all others to follow Him alone! (John 10:4-5)
Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, came to give His life for His sheep so that we might abundantly receive that same life through Him. (John 10:10-11) Only through faith in Jesus Christ are we saved. (Acts 4:12) Only through faith in Jesus Christ will we see God. (John 14:6) Only through faith in Jesus Christ will we enter the eternal Kingdom. (1 Cor. 6:9-11, Rev. 22:13-21) Thinking you can gain these things some other way than Jesus Christ is nothing but a lie. Except for faith in Jesus Christ, you have deceived yourself (Gal. 6:3), you will die in your sins (John 8:21 & 24), and you will go to Hell (Heb. 10:26-31).
Edwin Woolsey’s family has lived in Shannon, Texas, and Howell counties since 1860. He taught 31 years at Missouri public schools and is currently the pastor of a small country congregation at Pilgrim Rest Community Church. Follow him on Twitter at @edwinwoolsey.