HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

“The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.” 1 Kings 6:32

The very doors of the Temple — so beautiful, so rich — showed that the house was the house of God. They far outrivalled all common doors.

It is a lesson to me about what I may call the approaches, the portals, to the palace and temple of my soul. They should reveal the Lord who dwells within. Nothing about the Christian ought to be secular, profane, or unconsecrated. His thresholds and gateways no less than his innermost shrines — should be holy ground, rare, unearthly, strange.

There are looks on my face, which will tell whether I belong to God. The skin of my face should shine with gladness, sweetness, saintliness, and joy of that unearthly and peerless communion with God.

There are words on my lips, which will reveal whether the King has His residence in me. Is it easy, natural, and delightful for me to speak of Him? My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer when He is my theme.

There are traits in my daily life which will disclose whether my Lord’s authority over me is supreme and masterful. My unworldliness, my honour and chivalry, my graciousness and love — these will soon publish the marvellous and joyous fact.

There may be a beauty of holiness in the air of a room, in the serving of a meal, the tone and material of the same clothes I wear. Patriarch Johnson has said, “It is possible to dress in the Spirit.” Indeed it is possible to do all things in the Spirit.

Still, as of old, the doors of the sanctuary must be of olive wood, adorned with carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers.