Lately God has been showing me the door.
In his sizzling letters to the churches scattered throughout Asia Minor, Jesus offers this incredible promise: “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: “These are the words of him who is faithful and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door no one can shut. I know you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:7,8).
And then, just in case we might conclude that these words were meant exclusively for the church in Philadelphia, he says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (3:13). It’s for all of us who put our faith in Christ.
Well, that’s not entirely true, is it? It’s for believers whose faith has produced deeds, who have kept God’s word and haven’t denied his name in spite of their weakness.
“See,” Jesus says. That literally means “Be perceiving.” It’s a healing command. “Blind one, see!” See what?
“See the door I’ve placed before you.” This means “in full view.”
There’s a door before me?
“Yes. In full view.”
I can’t see a door.
“Then you’re not looking in the right place.”
God, our father, is always at his work. He’s always moving. Always preparing. And his promise is that right now—somewhere in my life—there stands a door. God made it. He placed it. It’s before me. Visible. So I look around with eyes of faith. What has God opened? Doors speak of opportunities. Decisions. Actions and obedience are required.
When I can’t see it, I ask God to show me. And he does, when I’m ready. In fact, I may already see it. It’s quite possible that I’ve already noticed and then dismissed it as a distraction or an illogical decision. So I take another look at the landscape of my life. A deeper look. God is counting on that.
Funny thing about this door, too—no one can shut it on me. This opportunity, this choice, this obedience, is mine alone. I can’t even close it. No one can, once God opens it. I can miss it, ignore it, despise it, fear it, and walk away from it, but there it is. Red tape can’t close it. My spouse can’t close it. The economy can’t close it. The government can’t close it. It stands open. Before me.
“See, I have placed before you an open door no one can shut.”
What will happen if I step through it? I don’t know. Is it safe? I don’t know. But there it is.
I do know that once I step through the door, my next move will be revealed—one at a time.
But now it’s your turn: What’s the door? What will you do with it?
oh my.
I think the door for me is to learn gratitude~ to be grateful for good things and bad and know that HE is in all things and does not let anything happen without a reason. That is hard, that is trust. That is really hard sometimes. But as I step one foot in front of the other I learn to be grateful in all things. As I do that the door that is open becomes easier to follow and enter.