THE IMPORTANCE OF DOORS IN “THREE ON THE SEESAW”

A stage set with several doors… for a play that reveals three men’s views on the hereafter…Coincidence?

Saved by a door hologram?

When I was a kid, my mom had this hologram picture of Jesus at a door.  If you move the picture, it would look like Jesus was knocking on the door.  Being an artist, I would like to say that some symphony or theatrical work was instrumental for me becoming a Christian, but, believe it or not, it was that cheesy hologram. 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock ; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”- Revelations 3:20

My hologram was a depiction of this verse, and God used this image to show me a loving savior who wanted to come inside and begin a relationship with me.  All I had to do was simply open the door.

“Time after time he has waited before and now he is waiting again.  To see if you’re willing to open the door…why don’t you let him come in.”- lyrics from the hymn, The Savior is Waiting

When this hymn was sung at a small Baptist church in Mississippi on March 12^th, 1979, I “walked the aisle” and finally unbolted and opened the door to let Jesus come into my life.  To tell you the truth, I was motivated by fear…no, not fear that I’d end up in hell…(well, maybe that, too).  But fear that one day Jesus would stop knocking.  I feared that my time would run out and he would give up and walk away.  Someday I’d open the door and say, “hey, Jesus, I finally got the place fixed up, come on in…hey, Jesus?  Jesus??”…and he would be gone for good…having given up on me.

Who’s the one outside the door?

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’”- Luke 13:24-25

Realistically, I guess it was theologically incorrect for me to think that Jesus would walk away.  Luckily, for those who haven’t let him in, he stands outside the door and, on appropriate occasions throughout one’s entire life, knocks.  BUT…that’s while we are alive.  And who can predict the time appointed for you to die?  As the verse above alludes to, when death happens, the opportunity for relationship is over.  The tables turn and in the process of keeping Christ out of our house, we have actually locked ourselves out of His.  I get the image of this door on a turntable, with a person on one side of the door and Jesus on the other.  When we die, the turntable cranks up and begins rotating.  Suddenly, it becomes clear that the door that kept Jesus out is now the door that keeps us out.  We, and not he, are left out in the cold, dark night.

Michael Jordan wants to “know” YOU?

“Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.  But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’”- Luke 13:25

Imagine if Michael Jordan came to your house and sat outside knocking on your door, year after year, and you never invited him in.  What would you be missing?  You’d be missing getting to know Michael Jordan…maybe having him teach your son some basketball tips…hanging out with him.  And what if someday, Michael’s throwing this major, exclusive party, and you end up standing outside Michael’s house, wanting to come in?  What could Michael say, but “I don’t know him.”  And it’s true- he might remember your name, but he would not really know you.  You never hung out…you never shared anything together…you never got to the point where “su casa was his casa” and visa versa…Michael Jordan was never allowed inside your house to have a relationship with you.  Should he know you?

Who left the door open?

“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.”- Luke 13: 28

My hope is the last image in THREE ON THE SEESAW will stay with you long after you leave the theater.  It’s an image of “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Well, maybe not that bad…after all, it is a comedy.  But I’ve had many people describe the ending as hopeless.  Yet, remember this- you can't help but walk out the door of the theater with hope.  Why?  Because you are alive!  You have freewill.  You can still open your door.  And, guess what? God’s door is open, too!  So…

“Someone’s knockin’ at the door…somebody’s ringin’ the bell.  Someone’s knockin’ at the door…somebody’s ringin’ the bell.  Do me a favor, open the door and let ‘em in….yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!”-   Paul McCartney, Let ‘em In

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS RAISED BY 

THREE ON THE SEESAW