The Door is Still Open

In Dewayne Bryant's last sermon here at Willow, he read an excerpt from a manuscript he is working on that is extremely thought provoking. He discussed how Noah and his family must have felt toward those people who were outside of the ark once God shut the door. It was not a feeling of vindication or celebration that Noah's preaching had proven to be correct. Rather, it was a feeling of thanksgiving mixed with sadness and concern for those who were scratching at the ark from the outside. People were desiring salvation but it was too late. In terror, one by one, they all slipped beneath the surface of the waters and were lost. The apostle Peter later noted that God was longsuffering in the days of Noah while the ark was being made ready, but finally God's just wrath for man's sin was satisfied (1 Pet. 3:20-21; 2 Pet. 3:4-10).

Whether the human race accepts it or not, God has set a time for the closing of the door. It could be today, tomorrow, or a million years away. Mock it as man will, the moment that door is closed everyone will want to be inside. In today's Christian age, it is the same as saying: 1. Everyone will want to be a Christian. 2. Everyone will want to be a member of the Lord's church. 3. Everyone will want to be found faithful.

When the door closes there will be no time to debate about whether or not baptism is essential for salvation, what is true and acceptable worship, or who is and who isn't a part of the church. All that will matter is whether or not we have obeyed the word of God and whether or not we are practicing what it teaches.

When the door closes there will be no time for getting around to asking people to worship. There will be no time for knocking doors or setting up potential Bible studies. There will be no time for someday maturing enough to where we are comfortable enough with ourselves to share our faith in Christ with others.

We should not wait for the door to close before we feel remorse for not being evangelistic. We should not wait for the door to close before we get in the boat ourselves. We should not wait for the door to close before we become salt and light in a world of death and darkness. The door is still open! And even if people aren't yet scratching to get in...they will be!

Brethren, they will be!

"So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in." ~ Genesis 7:16