Back in Biblical times cities were surrounded by walls with gates in them. The walls were there to protect the people from their enemies whose desire it was to enter the city and take everything inside it for themselves.
When an opposing army appeared on the hills outside the city walls, people would rush inside those walls and shut the gates. There was an element of risk to living life beyond the gates.
Today, things aren't that much different. Look at Washington DC for example. Walls have been erected around the Capitol building for Biden's inauguration. There are gates in those walls. People come and go through them but not without proper identification.
The Book of Revelation tells us of a "New Jerusalem," coming down from the clouds. It will have 12 gates but they will never be closed. There will be no reason to close them.
"On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life." - Revelation 21:25-27
How do we get our names written in THAT book - the Book of Life? By placing our faith, trust and hope in Jesus Christ. By repenting of our sins, turning from those wicked ways, and following Him. Have we done that yet?
Right now there is a large caravan of people heading for our southern border. Under the Trump administration those caravans were stopped but the incoming administration has new hope for easy access based on presidential campaign promises of open borders. Our gates will now be wide open.
These open borders are not like those we will have in heaven. Anyone and anything will be allowed to enter in to our earthly "city" - America. The reason there will be open gates in the walls of the CELESTIAL city is that there sill be no sin. There will be no enemies to take over the holy city.
That is not the case in OUR world today.
Place your faith in Jesus today. He is the gate to the city of our soul. He will not allow sin to enter our gates nor will He allow the temptations of this world to change our hearts.
Question: What would you do if you lived in one of those ancient cities and saw an enemy army coming down out of the hills. Your friends and family members are out working in the fields, oblivious to the attack. Do you yell out a warning? Do you run and grab them by the arm?
To be clear, simply SAYING you live in "the city" is not enough. You must actually enter it! Jesus is the gate. Unless your name is written in His Book of Life, you may not enter in.
"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. a They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:9-10
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