The Closed Gate Reopened

"Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.' And he was afraid and said, 'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.'” (Genesis 28)

This is an intriguing end to a fascinating passage in Scripture. In the beginning of Genesis we learned that the gate to Eden was closed off to Adam and Eve. And yet now, in His mercy and compassion, it seems as though God is opening it up again. Surely Jacob saw, with human eyes, the visible entrance into Heavenly realms.

What a joy to behold, and yet it caused Jacob to be afraid. This was not a fear based on perceived judgment, for God had just promised a wonderful future for Jacob and his offspring. Rather, it is a fear based on the incredible power and holiness and loving-kindness of God that enabled Jacob to see the open gate of heaven.

Does it make you jealous of Jacob's experience? Wouldn't we all love to have a peek into Heaven? But yet I wonder if God hasn't given that to us already, and we're just not seeing it clearly. Isn't the very Word of God a window into His kingdom above? Aren't we privileged to participate in sacraments that draw us closer, in a mysterious way, into the presence of God? And what about worship itself?

We need to think about Jacob's dream whenever we enter into worship. The gathering of God's people is "none other than the house of God, and this the gate of heaven." That gate is opened to us when we worship God through Jesus Christ.