How'd You Get In Here?

 

Earlier this week I was sitting in some weeds enjoying a crisp fall morning. At sunrise I looked up to see I was perfectly secreted on the fence-row. I was directly under this sign.

The sign clearly states no one can get in here. No one can trespass here. No one can hunt here. It may as well read, "Don't Even Think About It." If you aren't family you have no business here. You can't walk across the line and act as if this property is yours - unless the owner opens the gate to you.

So, how did I get in?

The owner invited me. It's that simple. The one who owns the land asked me to come over the line and enjoy his property. He made me like one of his family. I am welcome here. I didn't sign a contract of terms, pay a fortune to lease hunting rights or make a deal to work the land in return for the privilege of enjoying it. His invitation was freely offered. It was his gift to me.

I was hunting, but I was thinking too (that's probably my self-diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder kicking in again).  As the sunrise filled the sky with color I thought of all the places I went because someone paid my way, opened the door and made it possible.

Think about it.

How many places did you get in because someone got you in? (Tickets to a ND game? Box seats at a Colts game? A saved seat for High School football? The backstage pass?)

How many relationships did you get in because you were with someone who got you in? ("I'd like you to meet my roommate," or "This is my sister," or "Let me talk with my boss about your availability; otherwise your resume will just get lost in the pile of applications.")

Most doors open because someone opens them.

Even a thief crucified near Jesus knew this. He was literally pinned to his cross. He couldn't do any good deeds to earn his way into God's Kingdom. He couldn't perform impressive religious cleansing rituals or rites to sanitize his life of sin. He had no means to buy his way into God's Kingdom.  So, how'd he get in? Jesus opened heaven's door and said, "Today you will be with me in paradise."

Paul talked about the consequences of relocating onto the King's land when he wrote the Christ-followers in Rome. He said, "If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land! That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means."

Kingdom living is about life the King makes possible - and you are invited. God is opening a door for you to experience a new life in a new land.  

Romans 6:20-23  -  When you were the servants of sin, you felt no obligation to uprightness, and what did you gain from living like that? Experiences of which you are now ashamed, for that sort of behaviour ends in death. But, now you are set free from sin and bound to the service of God, your gain will be sanctification and the end will be eternal life. For the wage paid by sin is death; the gift freely given by God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Comments

[Danni Barnum]

This is a great illustration and example of God's incredible gift! It hit me in a new way reading this. Thanks so much for your thoughts and insight!