They’re made of rawhide and iron, and they don’t die easy. It’s what meat and beans and a lot of hard work and fresh air will do for you.”
–Louis L’Amour (Reilly’s Luck)
“Now I say this for your own benefit; not to restrict you, but to promote what is appropriate and secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.”
–1 Corinthians 7:35 (Amplified)
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8 — O LORD of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 — O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed.
10 — For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tests of wickedness.
11 — For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 — O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!” (NKJV)
The last portion of Psalm 84 is familiar, especially verse 10, “I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.” (NLT) The question then becomes, Is that true of you, or of me? So often we see in the media the grandeur of the rich, especially their homes. But what good does it really do them? When I read of how many square feet some of their homes have I would have to have a compass to get to the bathroom at night, or maybe tie a rope so I could hold it as I travel on a nightly trek.
I like the term “gatekeeper.” I imagine the literal term is closer to “doorkeeper.” Think of a doorkeeper of one of those fancy high-rise apartments in the city. It is your job to open and close the door as the rich enter and leave. They may smile at you as you do your lowly job, or they may snub you altogether. Does it really matter? You are doing a faithful job, fulfilling a service that they seem to be not able to do.
But the term “gatekeeper” has another meaning. In the Special Forces, the Gatekeeper has a special purpose. They are the ones who keep a check on the training. It is up to them to make sure that the standards are kept. It is not so much that they are watching the person going through the training as those who are doing the training. The Gatekeeper makes sure they do not allow anyone through who does not meet the standard. Remember the song from the Vietnam era? “One hundred men will test today, but only three, win the Green Beret.” (Barry Sadler)
Why is righteousness important? Why do we strive to be godly? Is it to boast or to pat ourselves on the back or is it because we love the Lord that we obey His commandments? The duty of the Levites was to stand at the tabernacle to make sure no unclean person entered in–they were gatekeepers, making sure a holy standard was kept. Why so stringent? Because their lives or the lives of others depended upon them keeping the standards. Going before the Lord with stained hands and feet was to bring forth His wrath. It was the job of the “gatekeeper” to protect them.
No, I am not speaking of legalism, though many may think they can come to the Lord any way they want. Not true! Before coming before the Lord, we must have the precious blood of Jesus Christ applied to our hearts. Then we “work out our own salvation.” We grow in grace, we learn, we strive, we keep His commandments; in other words, we adhere to the standard. It is not salvation; it is what we do after salvation.
Being a Christian is not haphazard or lackadaisical. It is serious; it means living a life that is honoring to the king of Kings. We honor Him by striving to be like Him. We are told to be “perfect” (mature), but that comes only through time, experience, and following His Word. A gatekeeper has been through the trials of battle. He knows the pitfalls, and he wants those that follow on toward the heavenly kingdom to make it. Become a “Gatekeeper” and bear the standard high. William Peterson wrote, “No matter what else you are doing in life, find a way to be one of God’s gatekeepers. It’s a great job, and the benefits are tremendous!”
“To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!”
–Charles Wesley