The Door That Will Never Be Opened To You….

A while back I was standing at the doorway of St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, in London. The church is a thriving and active church and is more popularly known as The Actor’s Church. The name is a slight misnomer though, since many people from varied professions of the creative, entertainment, arts, acting, literature and music are all represented and memorialised here.

However, you can stand and knock at this doorway all day long and no one will answer it. People will walk past you. Street artists will perform close to this doorway. And no one will ever answer this door. You see, this doorway is a fake. Oh. It’s a real door. But it has been covered over by a very large inscribed plaque. It is surrounded by columns and is set within a façade and portico. And, it will never be opened to you. But the framework is there for a door. The inside too has been covered over with an altar, chancel, transept, rood screen, and all the finery and trimmings of a traditional church. But behind it lies the framework of a door. But the door itself was removed.

Outside this fake door there are lots of street entertainers plying for your attention. Plenty of eating houses and a fantastic market offering all sorts of enticing goods and wares (I said enticing, not cheap). And as you wander around and through these attractions not one of them will point you to the church. They are all designed so that they can get either your money or your attention. All the entertainment outside are designed to keep you from finding the real entrance to the church.

I looked into it further. The church was designed in 1633 by Inigo Jones. A man who designed many famous buildings in London in the early 1600’s but he decided to build the church with the doorway facing east. Now - All old churches were traditionally built with the doorway facing west and the altar toward the east – toward Jerusalem. But, for some reason, Inigo thought it better to build the church the other way around. The established church of the day soon got to hear of it and made him change the interior of the building to conform to church tradition.

Even when you get inside there is plenty to distract you from the real meaning of a church. Name plaques abound inside this building. Sir Noel Coward. Dame Judi Dench. Sir Charles (Charlie) Chaplin. And plenty more are liberally placed around the place.

When you eventually do find the altar there is a small cross set there. It is certainly not the most noticeable or apparent thing when you enter this building.

The analogy of a doorway isn’t just reserved for Christianity. Although Jesus’ quote of “Behold I stand at the door and knock” has been much preached and commented on (I’m sure there’s a reference to it in the book 1000 Headings For Preachers and Teachers. Yes, it’s a real thing), the analogy of the doorway is much more popular with many cultures and philosophies.

Jesus speaks of a doorway a few times. When doing so He is referring to himself being the only proper way to get into communion with God.

John ch10 (1)Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (2)But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

John ch 10: (7)Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (8)All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. (9) I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 

He is also saying that if there is anyone trying to get into the sheepfold by any other way than the door then they are thieves and robbers.

Jehovah as The Door is also alluded to at the time of Noah in the Old Testament…..

Gen 7:16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

After Jesus’ resurrection the door is referred to as the entranceway to Faith in Christ.

Acts Of The Apostles ch14: (27)Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Revelation ch3 (8)"I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

So ,whenever I walk past this church at Covent garden. I will always remember that Christ alone is the way of Salvation. The music plays a part, as does the presentation of our worship. But unless it’s all done to the Glory of God you might as well be standing outside the Church with no Door.

Revelation ch4 (1)After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."

"I am the door," come in, come in,
And leave without thy load of sin;
The night is dark, the storm is wild,
O venture in, thou stranger child.

Dwight Williams.

Jesus knocks, He comes to save,
'Twas for thee His life He gave;
He hath triumph'd o'er the grave;
Open wide the door.

William Kitching.

In my weakness, You always make me strong.
All I wanna do now is praise You all day long.
If I should stumble You're there to pick me up.
When I get thirsty, I know You'll fill the cup
Since I opened up, opened up the door
I can't think of anything else but Jesus anymore.

Chuck Girard.

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