AN OPEN DOOR

 

See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it….  (Revelation 3:8b)

These words were addressed to the first century church of Philadelphia.  Since they are eternal truth inspired by God they have an application for the church today.  Studying the entire letter to the Philadelphian saints recorded in Rev.3:7-13 will yield rich spiritual insights, but for the purpose of this devotional we will concentrate on verse eight.  The verse expresses the door of opportunity God presents to His church anytime, anywhere, if only they will submit to Him in faith and obedience.

Consider the PERSON SPEAKING.  These words were uttered by Jesus Himself.  The letter to each of these churches was dictated to John.  The Apostle was the secretary, but Jesus was the Author.  How our Lord described Himself is important.  In verse seven, He says, “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens….’”  This speaks of His authority.  Christ has the keys.  This tells us that while the door is open for sharing the Gospel and making disciples that His church must respond with urgency for there will come a time when the door of opportunity closes.

Too often, we limit the impact we might have because in our thinking we lower God to the level of our experience, when we ought to raise the level of our experience to the greatness of our God!  Don’t you think that a God who could speak the universe into existence by the sheer word of His power is mighty enough to keep His promises to His people?  He will equip us to get the job done.

Hear this as a PERSONAL SUMMONS.  The response made by the church is dependent on the individual member.  Consider verse 13, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  The church where we belong will never progress beyond the level of commitment of its members.  The work cannot be done by a handful, though it can start there.  If enough are willing to hear the call and walk through the door of opportunity the church will flourish.  The outward growth of the church in reaching the world demands the inward growth of the Christian in the teaching of the Word.  A tree can only grow up and branch out in fruitfulness as it puts roots down for nourishment and stability.  An open Bible for daily meditation and an open heart for prayerful submission becomes the open door for spiritual development.  Also, when the church doors are open for Bible study and worship, we bring our Bibles, listen and learn.

This leads to the PRIVILEGED SERVICE.  The open door God sets before such a church does not lead to meadows where we laze in the sun, but to fields white for harvest.  Tens of thousands of unreached people dwell in a five-mile radius of our church—many of them without Christ—lost in their sins.  It is a privilege to serve Christ by sharing the Gospel.  I am so glad someone told me about Jesus—now I need to tell others.  

The door is open—for now.  Someday that door will close.  Our culture is becoming increasingly resistant to the Gospel.  Today is the day to share Christ for tomorrow may be too late.  That family member or friend may soon have the lid on their casket closed on them.  Tell them about Jesus now!

SEIZING OPPORTUNITY

And Solomon went to Hamath Zobah and seized it.  (2 Chronicles 8:3)

One of finest roles played by the late Robin Williams was in the movie, “Dead Poets Society.”  He was cast as an English teacher, John Keating.  Perhaps the most memorable part of the movie came when Williams was challenging the young men who were his students to seize the opportunity for their lives to be extraordinary.  He discusses with the class the Latin term, “carpe diem,” (meaning “seize the day”) by pointing to pictures of students who preceded them—now dead—their voices whispering from beyond the grave, “carpe diem…carpe diem…seize the day.”  It strikes a chord with our heart because we realize our days are numbered and we have something inside us that calls us to want to make a difference during the time we have.

In the eighth chapter of 2 Chronicles, we find King Solomon seizing his opportunity with a firm grip and wringing out of it every drop of significance.  He was a man exceptionally blessed by God with resources—wisdom and wealth—yet, was extraordinarily energetic in using those gifts to the glory of God.  Solomon was an ancient Hebrew who did not know a word of Latin and who preceded “Dead Poets Society,” by almost three thousand years.  Still, he fully understood the concept of making his life extraordinary.  He was blessed to be a builder.  Eight times the words, “built” or “build” are used in these eighteen verses.  The fact is that each day we are building a legacy that will last or frittering away our time on the trivial that will erode and vanish with the passing of the years.  As some walk through life, their footprints are cast in concrete, so that long after they are dead a path is clearly established to challenge others to follow.  Then, far too many will leave footprints as those who walk along the beach, where the tides of time wash away the evidence of their existence.

Solomon built a beautiful temple for the worship of God, as well as a palace for himself (v.1), with the sacrifices and service of the altar which he organized (v.12-16).  He built cities, took territory, secured it, and established an administration to govern effectively (v.2-11).  Solomon built the economy so all the nation might share the prosperity (v.17-18).

At this point, it will be tempting to make excuses and say, “If I had the same opportunity as Solomon—if I had all that he had—I would make my mark in life also!”  Would you?  There are some Biblical principles that apply.  Jesus said, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”  (Luke 12:48) and “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”  (Luke 16:10).  You are not responsible for what you cannot do—only the opportunity God gives you with the tools in your hands—and God establishes the true measure of success.  It is as eternity decides and not some earthly poll that is taken.  It may be that we labor in relative obscurity, few resources at our disposal, and little of the opportunity others have.  The real question in the end of life is, “Did I seize my opportunity?  Did I make the most of what God entrusted to me?”

Carpe diem—seize the day!

DON'T LOOK BACK

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9:62)

It is tempting at times to look back, but Jesus warned us about it.  He used the example of a man plowing a field.  The farmer must keep his eyes fixed on the ground before him, if his furrow is to be straight. To look back is to go astray and maybe worse—to run into a rock, tree or fence post!

We must not be LIMITED by our past.  We all have a past—some of it is good, some of it is bad.  There are decisions we ought not to have made—and we may still be living with the consequences.  Life has no rewind button.  Regret will only hinder us from getting where we need to go.  “Don’t cry over spilt milk!” is the old saying. On second thought, maybe you do cry with remorse, confess in repentance, but then claim forgiveness and move on.  Failure need not be final.  The pages of the Bible are filled with men and women of faith who messed up, but moved ahead.

We cannot LIVE in the past.  This is the polar opposite of limiting ourselves by past failures—it is relying on previous successes.  This happens when we do not succumb to regret, but nostalgia.  It is, “The good old days” syndrome.  We idolize the way it used to be—which is seldom as good as we imagined anyway—and this hinders us from embracing the opportunity of the present time.

Paul had this wonderful resolve,

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  ‎Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:12-14)

Let’s grab the plow handles firmly, look straight ahead, and go!  Don’t look back!

LIFE LESSONS

And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:  (Genesis 49:1)

If you are taking a trip somewhere that I have been, you are wise to listen to me before you travel.  I can tell you the best road to take, good places to eat, where to stay, and what to see.  If there are places to avoid, I can warn you.  We have the experiences of spiritual pilgrims recorded in Scripture.  “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”  (1 Cor.10:11)  There are life lessons from Jacob’s prophetic blessing in Genesis 49.

Reuben was commended for his strength (v.3), but condemned for his lack of stability (v.4), which led to immoral sensuality.  We are warned of being, “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)  Such are bound to trip and fall.

If Reuben’s problem was instability then Simeon and Levi’s was cruelty (v.5-7).  Rather than controlling their anger, it dominated them.  “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  (James 1:19-20)

Judah would rise to sovereignty (v.8-12).  His would be the line from which the kings would come—and ultimately the King of kings, the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ.  Since we are heirs with Christ, then we shall reign with Him also (read Rom.8:17; Rev.22:5).

Zebulun and Issachar teach us about opportunity (v.13-15).  Zebulun would seize it, and Issachar would shun it.  Dwelling by the sea, Zebulun’s heirs would master commerce.  Issachar’s strength gave great potential, but indifference led to enslavement.  God gives us such wisdom in His Word about financial matters, but too often, “the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.” (Luke 16:8b)

Dan warns us of duplicity (v.16-18).  He is pictured as a serpent lying in wait, striking the unsuspecting.  In this he is like his spiritual father—the Devil.  Our only hope to escape the same sin and sentence is to cry out to God for salvation (v.18).

Gad, Asher and Naphtali will experience victory and exhibit prosperity (v.19-21).  So should we: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Cor.2:14). ‎

Joseph’s life lesson instructs us in purity (v.22-26).  His painful experiences were God’s pruning to prepare him for fruitfulness.  They had a refining quality that molded his character into a vessel God could us.  A sanctified life is one God delights to bless.

Benjamin teaches us about activity (v.27).  Morning and evening would find him on the move.  His productivity would lead to prosperity.  God never blesses laziness!  Do we, like Benjamin, have an appetite to achieve?

As you look into the mirror of God’s Word here, what do you see about your life?

DAWN OF A NEW DAY

 

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.  (Proverbs 4:18)

God gives us light for our next step.  If we take it in faith and obedience, He gives more light.  As we mature spiritually, by walking in His light with Him, the path becomes brighter and the way clearer.  We come to recognize God’s leading—the path clearly distinguishable by our familiarity with it.  Best of all, we know that it ends in eternal Day—the brightness of God’s radiant glory, enveloping us in Heaven!

Today is the dawn of a new day of opportunity.  Did I take a detour into darkness yesterday and stumble in unbelief and rebellion?  God will forgive—if I repent—and set me on the right path today.  In a time of such darkness that befell a nation in rebellion against God, the Lord gave His prophet this shaft of light breaking through the clouds:

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not. 

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Even if I have been unfaithful, I find God is faithful still.  His mercies are as a dam restraining the flood of His wrath that I merit.  This new day I am awake and alive with opportunity for a fresh start.  God is great and nowhere is this more evident than in the infinite glory of His grace toward me!

I can join with the Psalmist in affirming, “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  (Ps.118:24)  Here I have a gift unwrapped—this special day, uniquely designed by God.  It is a day unlike any other day and will never be exactly replicated again.  I choose to begin this day with God!  In this day, I rejoice and am glad!

The hymn has been sung countless times, but let its message stir your soul again:

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.  (Charles A. Miles)