The Gatekeepers and the Key

I thought I had already started enough blogs. Several friends, however, have encouraged me to start one more, this time one that reflects on the Scriptures. I call this blog “The Gatekeeper’s Key”.

When we lived abroad, I used the nickname “Gatekeeper” for my email address and other communications. That’s what I saw myself as over there – a keeper of the gate. Mostly to open the door for those willing to come serve and for others to learn of the True Shepherd. Sometimes I also found a way to keep certain problem people out!

I Chronicles 9:27 refers to the Gatekeeper’s key. Four gatekeepers spent the night guarding the house of God and unlocked the gate every morning to let people in.

When the people of Judah returned to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon, Nehemiah was very disturbed that the walls and the gates of Jerusalem were a mess. The gatekeepers were called back to look after the house of God during this time of rebuilding when security was most, well, insecure.

The city of Xi’an where we used to live has a massive city wall around it – the largest most intact city wall in the world. It is 8 miles around (rectangular shape) and is 3 stories high and wide enough for two lanes of traffic, if cars could get up there. The wall dates back to the Ming Dynasty, some several hundred years ago. When we first moved there in the mid-90s, they were restoring parts of the wall that had fallen into disrepair, gateways where new roads have gone through and new stones where the old ones had disappeared. You can see pictures of Xi’an’s city wall at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_wall_of_Xi'an.

Nowadays there are no locked gates, but to get up on top of the wall you have to have a ticket or an annual pass. We walked that wall nearly every week for over a decade, talking with Father about dreams of joy and peace for that city. I knew a man who worked inside the massive south gate. When they raised the prices of tickets and started the annual passes, he pulled me aside and told me that if we ever had any problems with the tickets, I was to come see him and he would help me get in. And he was true to his word. It pays to know the key person!

You and I who know the Scriptures are key people. We can unlock the truths and treasures of God for those around us who do not have the key. As gatekeepers, we guard the truth, but we also make it available to those who truly want to know. Today, like that friend at the South Gate, I’m saying I’ll be glad to let you in on the treasures I’ve discovered inside. Just let me know and come by and “see” me at hnkgatekeeper.blogspot.com.