Having lived on military bases, I know firsthand the vital importance of “Guarding The Gates.” Approaching a military base can be rather intimidating, especially when a base has been placed on: “High Alert” because of some impending threat. Military Police are stationed at the entrance of the base operating out of a Guard Gate with a mandate to make sure that only military personnel, their family members and guests and those on, “official government business” have access to the base. The presence of this type of scrutiny was both comforting and unnerving at the same time.
It didn’t matter how many times I drove through those Guard Gates, The MP’s as they were known, would look to the windshield searching for the identifying symbol of rank and authorization in order to let me pass through.
A well trained MP would slow the car down, locate the military decal, recognize the Full Eagle symbol denoting my stepfather’s rank as a full Colonel, then come to full attention with a salute as I was cleared to pass through the Guard Gates. The MP would not rely on the familiarity of my face alone, in order to give me access to the base, even though I lived there.
When we accept Jesus Christ into our heart as Lord and Savior, we receive the promise of the “Full Salute of Our Salvation.” At that point, we are given the responsibility through the help of The Holy Spirit to become MP’s of our own heart as we, “Guard the Gate of Our Lives.” The Bible says it this way in Proverbs 4:23 (AMP), “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.”
What you salute at the “Gates of Your Heart” you authorize to have access to your life. Never allow what is familiar to you to become the snare that could potentially kill you, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, financially or even physically. The enemy, (devil) will use what is familiar to you to set up his agents of deception in order to gain access to your heart.
Beware of any person, place or thing whether it be in the thought life or tangibly that is trying to gain access to your heart without the identifying Presence of The Holy Spirit’s Approval, which is Peace based on The Truth of God’s Word. The MP’s knew that I looked familiar to them but they would not let me drive through the gates and access the military base, which housed the heart of military activity until they were able to fully identify me and the car that I was driving and mark me as safe. Then and only then did they come to full attention and salute as I was authorized to pass through the gates.
I have three questions for you as we secure the “Gates of our Heart”.
1. What are you saluting and coming to full attention to at the Gate of Your Heart?
2. Will you choose, “The Gate of Life” and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
3. If you already know Him as Lord and Savior, will you, “Guard the Gates of Your Heart” in order to be all that God has called you to be? God’s gift of free will is yours, choose well.
Jesus Christ tells us Himself in John 10:10 (NKJV) “The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”
If you are accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior for the first time, then the following prayer has been written with you in mind. Please join me as we pray together:
“Jesus, I really want to know You, show me Who You Are as My Lord and Savior, come into my heart and teach me how to Guard the Gates of my life. I love You and I want to serve You forever, Amen”!
Congratulations! Your name has officially been written in “The Book of Life”!
Let’s “Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving” as we celebrate the Best Day of your life as a New Believer in Jesus Christ! Reference Psalm 100:4 (NKJV).
© 2017 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”
Boldly For Him 