The Door We Go Through Better Be Jesus!

 

In the first book of the Bible - Genesis - we read about the "door" that God shut after Noah entered into the ark - "And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in"(Genesis 7:16).  

 

Then in the last book of the Bible - Revelation - we read again of the "door" - the "open door" - that no man can shut and the "shut door" that no man can open - "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name."

 

Sandwiched between these two books are more verses of Scripture pertaining to the "door." Some of them are as follows -

 

1 Corinthians 16:9 says - "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."

2 Corinthians 2:12 says - "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord."
Colossians 4:3 says - "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds."
Matthew 25:10 says - "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut."
Luke 13:25 says - "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are."
 

 

He is the source of all liberty and opportunity for His Church. Hence, "an open door" represents an opening for evangelism or spiritual usefulness...an entrance into the joy of the Lord or into the meaning of the Scriptures...or an enjoyment of some privilege or honor. "An open door" can also mean that the opportunity is available to receive the Gospel and be saved.

 

The "shut door" - on the other hand - relates how the time of opportunity to reach a certain group of people or to accomplish a certain task has passed by. Or it says that the door of opportunity to respond to Jesus is closed and access into His Presence can no longer be regained. No amount of agonizing in prayer will avail to open the door.  

 

Read what the Book of Job has to say about this matter -

 

Job 11:10 says - "If He cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder Him?"
Job 12:14 says - "...He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening."

                                                                                              

Once God shuts a door on an opportunity relating to ministry, a relationship, or employment, there can be no opening it. Who would dare to "hinder" Him once He shuts it? 

 

Do you think that you can possibly contradict...stop...or turn Him back once He shuts up a man? Can you possibly release those whom He has imprisoned? He has the power to frustrate the best laid plans so that they can never come to any good effect.

 

Right before the Flood, God shut Noah in but shut the wicked and ungodly out. He shut Noah in - saving and protecting him. He shut the ungodly world out - leaving them to be destroyed by the waters.

 

In the end of time, God will shut in those who truly and heartily yielded obedience to Him, but He will shut those out who only knew Him in a professional way.   

 

We must never forget that God operates on "an open door" and "closed door" basis. This concept is seen throughout the Scriptures.

 

So many today are doing things without having God's "open door" on it. They have seemingly opened their own doors and closed any which did not appeal to their flesh.

 

We must never forget the Lord's words as recorded in John 10:7 which are - "...Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." That means that whatever His sheep do, they do because Jesus made a way to do it. In other words, they minister in a certain realm, capacity, or position because Jesus as the "door" made a way to do so. Every relationship that they are involved in, they are "plugged in" because Jesus as the "door" brought together certain people for fellowship. The job situation that they are involved in - Jesus as the "door" led them into it as a means of provision, blessing, and ministry.

 

Every aspect of the "sheep's" life must be channeled through the "door" of the Shepherd. He must be the One Who opens the way to go through. When He is finished with a certain course of direction, then He as the "door" has the prerogative to slam that opportunity shut. After all, He is the "door" and has the right to stay open or to shut close.

 

But what happens when someone gets ahead of Him and opens his own doors of opportunity - whether they be ministry, relationship, or job-related?

 

Read what John 10:1 says about this matter - "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." Jesus calls all those - who are too impatient to wait on His timing and run ahead and open up their own doors - "thieves and robbers." 

 

And what do you suppose that He will do to all those who happen to open their own doors of opportunity? 

 

What did He do - in the days of Noah - to the entire world who refused to follow His way? He "shut" them out of His care and protection and "shut" them in to His destruction. 

 

And what do you think He will do to all those in the present-day world who refuse to wait on Him for His direction and leading and allow Him to be the Lord of their lives? As the "door," He will "shut" them out of His care and protection and "shut" them in to His wrath and judgment. 

 

Who refuses to go through God's open "door" - Jesus? Who refuses to wait for His perfect timing in opening a door of opportunity in any given life matter? 

 

If that is you, you are "a thief and a robber." 

 

Do you think that you can possibly contradict, stop, or turn Jesus away once He "shuts" the door on you? 

 

May God Bless His Word.

Connie