The Door

Imagine that you are standing on one side of a door and Satan on the other.  He wants to get in and you want to keep him out.  For a while you are standing there pushing with every ounce on energy.  After a while you hear something.  It doesn't sound like Satan.  It sounds fun and you are so tired from constantly pushing.  You stop pushing and stand there looking at the door.  What harm could there be, if you opened the door just a tiny bit. Just a little peek.  You look at the door knob and think...."I'm strong.  I can open the door just a tiny bit.  If it's Satan, I'll just push it closed again.  He can't hurt me."  Your legs and arms ache from standing at the door.  You just want to rest for a while and have a little fun.  And it does sound fun out there.


So you open the door just a tiny bit.  It looks like just as much fun as it sounded.  You know Satan is out there somewhere, but you can't see him at all.  You think about how nice it would be to just relax for a while.  You open the door just a little wider, so you can see better.  But its still not enough.  You stick your head out to get just a little closer.  Suddenly Satan is RIGHT THERE!  You try to closer the door but Satan curls his fingers around the door.  The door feels so much heavier than it did before.  He is wedging his toe inside.  Before you know it, he is in up to his elbow.  You use your foot to push his toes back, but when you take your focus off his hands, he wedges his shoulder in.  When you try to push his arm back out, he has a knee through the door.  You feel weak, and tired.  You wonder if you should just give up and let him in. You think "How did this happen? How did Satan get so far inside?"   You know you don't have the strength to get him out by yourself.


Thankfully the story does not have to end there, right?  Just when you feel your weakest, you see your visiting teacher pushing against the door with you.  Your bishop is methodically peeling Satans fingers away from the door frame.  The Savior Himself is pushing Satan back out the door.  Once you are sure he is out, you bolt the door.  You pile every heavy piece of furniture in front of it.  Everyone stand at guard, determined to never let Satan in again. 


This may seem so simple and childlike, but I see it happening all around me every day.  I hear a good friend say "Oh I'm having lunch with my old professor.   It's not like anything will happen.  Besides, he isn't my type anyway."  I hear another say "I know why are both married, but there is no harm in chatting with this guy.  He makes me laugh.  Besides, he lives clear across the country.  What could happen."  I have seen good people fall into this trap time and time again.  A Ward Missionary, a primary counselor, a bishopric counselor.  Good, good men and women who let Satan get inside.  The process of getting him back out again, is so much harder and so much longer.    We have to remember that no one is exempt. No one gets a free pass.  Given the opportunity, Satan will take anyone.