"I am the gate"

An Arab spy had been captured and sentenced to death by a general of the Persian army. The general had fallen upon a strange and weird custom. He permitted the condemned person to make a choice. He could either face the firing squad or pass through the Black Door.

As the moment of execution drew near, the general ordered the spy to be brought before him for a short, final interview, the primary purpose of which was to receive the answer of the doomed man to the query: "Which shall it be -- the firing squad or the Black Door?"

This was not an easy question, and the prisoner hesitated, but soon made it known that he much preferred the firing squad. Not long thereafter a volley of shots in the courtyard announced that the grim sentence had been fulfilled.

The general, staring at his boots, turned to his aide and said, "You see how it is with men, they will always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. And yet I gave him his choice."

"What lies beyond the Black Door?" asked the aide.

"Freedom," replied the general, "and I've known only a few men brave enough to take it."

Just like in this story, we all have a choice in our lives. Choose the door that leads to freedom or choose certain death. Jesus explained this decision when he said...

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; 

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

- John 10 v 9 - 10

Entering through the door, or gate, does not just bring freedom. It brings safety and protection. In Biblical times, the shepherd used to sleep at the gate of the sheep enclosure to protect the flock from wolves and thieves. In this same way, as Christians, we are protected and watched over by our shepherd Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, we are promised to find green pastures and have life to the full. But you only start to receive fullness in areas of your life when you make use of the pastures! Reading God's Word, spending time with God in prayer, having fellowship with other believers. That's how to make the most of the green pastures. That's when Jesus starts to work in your life. And that's when you start to feel fulfilled.

Sounds like grass is pretty green... So my question to you is...
why wouldn't you go through the gate?