Gatekeepers

I Chronicles 9:22–30

“Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the tent of meeting. The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods. But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning. Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices. But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices.”

Today we are the gatekeepers to faith in Jesus Christ and salvation unto the earth, we are charged by God to bring as much people as we can back into His embrace, having been saved ourselves. The Apostle Peter writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (I Pet 2:10-11).” In a way, we hold the keys to His Kingdom, let us not squander this solemn responsibility, and it takes an act of faith to succeed in this sacred endeavour. It may seem all too daunting, like what the LORD had said to His disciples, as they witnessed a rich young man walk away from entering the faith if it meant giving up his wealth: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That the rich shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were perplexed, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With people this is impossible; but with God all things are possible (Matt 19:23–26.” May God richly bless us with many apparent opportunities to help people enter the narrow gate, the door into the glorious Kingdom of God, the gate into love, truth, and everlasting life, Jesus Christ Himself; may we love our neighbours enough, like our Lord and saviour, to assist others in knowing, liking, trusting, and loving God.