John 18:15-16
And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
We have two people in these verses who responded differently to the door they faced. That door determined their next actions. The one disciple who faced the door opened it and went in with Jesus. The other disciple, Peter, stood without the door, and his choice to stand without the door led him to the wrong associations, which led to warming himself at the heathen’s fire.
The door is always a representation of Christ. Jesus said in John 10:9, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Now, Peter was already saved, but because he refused to go in, he kept himself from enjoying the pasture that God had for him. What pasture are we talking about? Psalm 23:1-2 says, The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:… In other words, by refusing to go in the door, Peter missed the green pastures of the LORD providing for his needs. He missed the still waters of peace the LORD gives in the tumultuous times of life. He missed the restoration the LORD gives to the soul of those who walk through the door. He missed walking in the paths of righteousness, he missed the comfort the LORD gives, the provision of spiritual sustenance found at the LORD’s table, and the joy that is found in walking with God.
Because Peter refused to walk through the door, he found himself alone. He eventually got his warmth in life from the heathen’s fire, but found himself with the wrong crowd. Instead of walking in the paths of righteousness, he found himself standing in the way of sinners denying the church, his faith, and his God. Peter could have gone through the same door the other disciple went through, but because he refused, the heartache and regret that followed was great.
My friend, every day you stand at the door and either choose to go in with Christ to enjoy the benefits that come from walking with God, or you choose to stand without the door, but you will always find the heartache that standing without that door brings. Always remember that every day you stand without the door of God’s fellowship is another day that adds to heartache and great regret later. It is always better to enter the door with Christ and not have to suffer the regret that not walking in the door brings.
Let me ask, are you standing without the door or have you walked within the door with Christ? Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Christ is knocking at your heart’s door and hoping you will not stand without and hurt your testimony and life. Christ knocks at your heart’s door and wants you to open the door daily to fellowship with Him and enjoy the blessings that come from opening the door. You can stand without the door and think the world will give you what you want, but you will find the world only takes from you until you have nothing left, and then they leave you. However, when you enter the door to fellowship and serve with Christ, and you will find that His blessings are great, His provisions are sufficient, and His presence gives peace.
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