The Gatekeeper.

I suppose that as we start a new year the tradition for many thinkers is to turn their thoughts to the analogy of a gateway. Gateways are always used as an analogy for something, or someone, who is transitioning from one state to another. And New Year celebrations are sometimes thought of as a gateway, or a threshold.

I shared in an earlier post about our visit to the Tower of London this year to witness the Ceremony Of The Keys. It was the nightly ceremony of the closing up of The Tower of London and the locking of the gates. And has been performed religiously every single night for over 700 years.

And the bible has used the metaphor of the gateway many times. Aside from there being guards to defend the gates, gatekeepers were also thought of as guides who helped people to go in the right direction on their journey as they left a city. Sometimes Gatekeepers are not the ones to do God’s work. But sometimes they are merely the one who stands on the threshold and inspire someone else to start their journey.

Two great names associated with Reformation history are John Calvin and Ignatius (Inigo Lopez) of Loyola. And both men are either reviled or revered in equal measure depending on your religious beliefs. But what is not very well known is that these two men lived at around the same time, attended the same university (The University Of Paris, Serbonne). And although there are no records of them having spoken with each other it is possible that they could have crossed paths at some point in their daily studies.

Ignatius went on to found the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits) and Calvin gave the Reformation teaching of, amongst other teachings, the Five Points of Calvinism. He also helped translate the Bible into french for the ordinary people to read.

While walking through a neighbouring town John Calvin stopped to watch the execution of a martyr. As he looked on he could not help but notice the look of peace on the martyr’s face as he was burned at the stake. This then prompted him to study the scriptures more to find out more about this “peace”. A dying martyr had become Calvin's gatekeeper.

And so, Ignatious of Loyola and John Calvin went on their own individual pathways.

You know, it’s very easy to praise God and sing hymns and choruses when we are feeling good and “on the mountain tops”. But when we reach the valleys of dark moods, despair, despondancy and our sense of failure it gets a bit harder.

And there have been times that things were so low, and the way forward was so unlclear that I didn’t know what to do next. All I could do was to sit and wait. But lately, I have found out that it is okay to be in these places and not know what to do next.

It is okay just to sit, shrug your shoulders, and say to God, “I’m sorry Lord. But I really don’t know what to do next”. And what we fail to remember is that “downtime” is also God working in us, through us, and for us. The Prophet Isaiah says…

Isaiah Ch40 (31) But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

We should learn to be mindful on how we handle our hardships and low points. For we don’t know who is watching us and our reactions.

During this low part of our lives there will be other christians watching us and they may be looking for motivation and guidance on how to handle their own sets of circumstances. And sometimes they watch how we handle ours. And they need us to set an example. In that sense, we are like the gatekeeper/guide for them as they move along in their own journey. Even at our lowest points we still have a purpose in God’s plans.

I have learned not to hate the bad experiences I have faced. But I did find them hurtful and challenging. The pain ran deep and the run scars even deeper. But eventually, they opened up new reserves of strength and dependancy on God. And although I’d rather forget the pain and scars, if it wasn’t for them then my relationship, my knowledge and love for God would never have come to be what it is today.

So, wait on God. We are mentors of God’s love and grace to others at every point in our lives. Whether we are in a position of uncertainty and sorrow, a position recovering from sin’s destructive power, or just enjoying God’s blessings on our lives, we are still mentors and gatekeepers for others who are on their own journeys.

When King David was hiding in the cave in the hills of Adullam he thought he was alone. But people still needed him. Not just as king, but also as a brother, son and family man. And pretty soon his family and friends sought him out to join alongside him in the mountains. Four hundred of them.

1st Samuel Ch22 (1)David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. (2) All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

So as we sit in God’s presence just remember, it is okay not to know what to do next. It is okay to shrug your shoulders and say “Lord. I don’t know what to do”. Use it as a time for reflection, prayer and communication. The Bible is God’s words to us. But hymns, choruses and prayers are our words to Him. Amen.

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.
He plants his footsteps in the sea and walks upon the storm.
Deep in the dark and hidden mines, with never-failing skill,
He fashions all his bright designs and works his sovereign will.

Email - TheseLivelyOracles@hotmail.com
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Location: 1 A1, Belfast BT1 5YE, UK

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