Devotionals

Doors on Legs

by Mobayode Akinsolu
02/15/18
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Doors on Legs

Can you imagine arriving at your house after a very long day only to discover that the front or entrance door is not at its usual place? If you tend to keep doormats, you are bound to become perplexed as you step your feet on the one stationed on the porch. While this scenario may be the case in comedy horror movies or screenplays; in reality, doors do not move or translate from their frames or posts of their own accord. However, that is not to say that the overall bodily encapsulation of doors is always stationary. As a matter of fact, builders may be compelled to replace or relocate building doors during renovations or refurbishments as long as such works do not contravene with ethical and safety standards.

Taking cognizance of moving bodies such as automobiles, aeroplanes, trains, and etcetera, doors can also appear to be in motion relative to the dynamism of the bodies housing them. Nonetheless, the positions of the doors available on these moving bodies are also often fixed. If the position of a door was to be defined by a local coordinate system and the position of its moving housing (such as a car or plane or train) were to be defined by a global coordinate system, it would be correct to say that the local coordinates of the door are fixed with respect to the global coordinates of its housing. This holds to be true even though the global coordinates are translational with respect to the real-world Cartesian coordinate system. From a less mathematical or scientific point of view; in most cases, the rear doors of a vehicle remain at the rear of the vehicle throughout the lifecycle of the vehicle irrespective of the mileage and changing locations of the vehicle. So, it is unquestionably figurative to ascribe the mammalian locomotory organs to inanimate doors by saying, ‘Doors on Legs’.

In a very simple parochial sense, I’d say the personification of doors as human hearts is deeply entrenched in the Holy Scripture. While there are a good number of biblical references to resonate the aforesaid, the foremost is apparently found in Genesis 4: 7. In Genesis 4: 7, sin is revealed to be crouching at every heart that is not right with God. A more vivid allegory of the human heart figuratively depicted as a door can be found in Revelation 3: 20. In Revelation 3: 20, the apostle John heard and noted the words of our Lord and Saviour as the gentle Redeemer who patiently and persistently seeks a fellowship with every heart by standing at the door and knocking. Other correlated biblical references can be found in the Psalm of King David (Psalm 24) and the account of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the apostle John (John 10).

Suffice it to say, in the scriptural parlance, doors depict our hearts, an apt personification of who and what we are. In as much as we move around with our hearts present within our bodily frames, we are ‘doors on legs’. And for every moment that we are blessed and graced to sojourn here on earth amongst others, we remain doors on legs that will either be open or shut to the people who deliberately or inadvertently come our way. This is why it is pertinent for every true believer to be able to discern the real essence of conversations, friendships, interactions and relationships. No doubt, discernment ought to be a daily exercise in our walk with God (1 Thessalonians 5: 21 – 22 and 1 John 4: 1).

During a brief conversation after a local church meeting, a senior citizen once shared the following paraphrased words: “In all my travels and by moving from place to place, I've come to realise that God deliberately sends people into our lives as attachments. Some for a short-term and others for a lifetime. It's vital to consciously discern those who'd be in your life over the long haul. Some of them will hold the keys needed to unlock your purpose and maximize your potentials. It's difficult to: regain lost opportunities, recoup misplaced priorities and relive failed seasons. To avoid the delusions and despairs that come with delays in life, you've got to get it right at the right time.” Ever since Sr. Mike’s words have found a special place in my heart (at my door). Though they appear to be very broad in perspective, I’d rather examine them in the context of the effect, impact and influence we tend to have on each other as we build a genuine camaraderie (friendship and trust) in our daily dealings.

In other words, when people come through our doors (our hearts) witnessing our deepest convictions and heartfelt emotions just as we go through theirs, a chain reaction is always sparked. If appraised, the impact and influence of this chain reaction ignited by knocking and eventually gaining access to doors on legs cannot be overemphasized. Do we leave those who become part of our lives better or worse off than before they came along knocking and walking through our doors? This is a reflective query which ought to be embellished in the Christian outlook to life. In a world full of many individuals seeking to make a sense out of the multiplicity of uneven circumstances, it will be very diligent and faithful of us to ascertain what sort of doors on legs we are. As believers, it is our dire responsibility to ensure that all who walk through our doors find the fullness of God’s unfailing grace, immutable truths and blessed assurances.

Today, most ‘doors on legs’ lead mainly to anger, hatred, resentment, egotism, legalism, envy, strife, jealousy, and etcetera. Consequently, the bad news of eternal damnation and judgement as a result of these failings appears to be more resolute than the ‘Good News’ of God’s saving grace and eternal power to redeem and set free from the same through our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. As workmen unashamed of our salvation, gifts and callings in God, we must daily lay hold and take captive of every seed and root of such in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10: 5 and 2 Timothy 2: 15). Are we harbingers of doom to a failing generation? Are we cursors or bleeps only present on the broad roads to perdition? Are we blazing arrows pointing only in the direction of condemnation and judgement of others? By no means! We are the living epistles boldly written for all to read and bear witness to; the visible reflections of the invisible qualities of God which are difficult to latch on even His eternal power (Romans 1: 20 and 2 Corinthians 3). For we have been saved by Grace unto good works that we may proclaim the ‘Good News’ (Ephesians 2: 1 -10 and Isaiah 61).

In sync with the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we must always see people the way God does. Pouring contempt on all our pride, we must never let our personalities and temperaments resonate louder than the very mind of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ which ought to be in us (Philippians 2). Again I say, the rumbling bowels of compassion and mercy in us must always translate to decisive actions and spoken words without a premature abortion in the vastness of self-absorbed thoughts. For this is the true gospel and the unflinching power of God unto salvation: that we share the ‘Good News’ of our faith and deepest convictions with everyone God plants along our paths and who eventually access our doors (hearts). These are the fruits which we ought to bear; fruits that will last (Proverbs 11: 30 and John 15).

The season is here for all hearts to bear, the true essence of the Lord’s presence;
The moment is now for all hearts to humbly bow, at the Lord’s throne and thereat alone;
The hour's come for the reign of the Lord’s kingdom, in every life where there is strife;
We are doors purposed to lead others to the Father, through Jesus Christ our Master.