D O O R S

Jack Davis

“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.” Rev. 3:7-8

Oh, how I rejoice in our Father’s open door policy, which also involves our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessed Holy Spirit. As we consider the Scripture let us realize there are doors of communication, revelation, and translation and so much more. May the Holy Spirit direct our hearts into a deeper appreciation of the access we have unto God, who according to the good pleasure of His will, and “To the praise of the glory of His grace” hath made us accepted in the Beloved. “ For through him we both (Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit unto the Father” – Eph. 1:5-6 & 2:18. God’s Word gives many challenges to our faith, to come boldly to the throne of grace. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith unto this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” – Rom. 5:1-2.

Many may think of doors as a way of escape and exit to avoid danger, death, damnation or doom. We appreciate that, but praise God for the positive side. We are invited to enjoy doors of faith, favor, fellowship, fruitfulness, and fulfillment, since Jesus opened up the way.

GRAND OPENINGS: The Word sets before us many grand openings. I think of our God’s hand, Ps. 145:14-19. In verse 16 “Thou openest thine hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing.” The living God, which made heaven and earth and all things, He left not himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness – Acts 14:15-17.

Another marvelous grand opening is mankind’s HEART. This interesting metaphor seems to express well the way God’s thoughts can penetrate our innermost being. Acts 16:14-15 gives us an illustration of this. “And a certain woman named Lydia…which worshipped God heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul…she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there.” The Lord opened her heart and she opened her house. Her reaction is very instructive. If we realize the high privilege God has set before us, He must open our hearts doors. We read, “as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God…we have received…the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God” – I Cor. 2:9-10,12. Therefore Paul was inspired to pray for us that the “Eyes of our (hearts) understanding” be “enlightened: that ye might know…” – Eph. 1:18.

We rejoice in the grand opening of our Father’s home. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also” – Jn. 14:1-3.

Hallelujah! God’s grace hath brought us, as David said, “Into a large place” and we add as it dawns upon us, it is indeed a place of ever increasing dimensions. Doors in scripture give us many precious lessons. We are taught in type from the beginning, that our acceptance with God is on the merit of sacrifice. God said to Cain: “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin (sin-offering) lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him” – Gen. 4:7. After the fall, that earthly paradise had been closed to man, and a flaming sword was placed to guard the way to the tree of life. Thank God for the way Jesus has made the changes for believing humanity. Availability of the true tree of life, and access to the heavenly paradise has been provided by Him who opened up the way. He is the “door of the sheep, and way, truth, and the life.” He said, “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.”

I am so thankful our life is hid with Christ in God, the God that closed the door on the Noah ark, and then opened heaven’s doors. My, didn’t it rain! He is our Father, who opened heaven’s doors in the wilderness and gave Israel manna, and meat, Psa. 78:23-29. The same God to whom we pray, with our doors shut, eliminating distractions.

We read the stone being rolled away from the door of the tomb. Why was this done? Was it so Jesus could get out” Oh no! It was for the encouragement of faith, that witnesses could see in. He didn’t need material doors. After His resurrection He walked right in the room where His disciples were assembled with the doors locked.

DOOR OF COMMUNICATION: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” – Rev. 3:20. During this age of grace, He hasn’t usually gone where He is not wanted. Therefore He now longingly, patiently stands at each individual heart door saying tenderly, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” SOON, VERY SOON, as the King of glory, He shall demand access. The shout will go out; “Life up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in” Ps. 24:7. We will be  glad on that day, we have been receptive to Him today.

We read in Matthew 25:10; of the time of the wedding feast, and preparation for that time in symbol (the “wise took oil”). Thank God the wise are taking oil today. Then  when the bridegroom came, “they that were ready went in, and door was shut.” Then after the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:5-9, “I saw heaven open” (V. 11), He seems to arise from the wedding feast, and goes out to make war.

DOOR OF REVELATION: “After this I looked, and behold, a door was open in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were a trumpet talking with me: which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter” – Rev. 4:1. Oh, beloved, think of the marvelous access given to us into the highest purposes of God, the richest privileges, choicest pleasures, the most valuable treasures, we have been invited into the realm of love divine, and urged to launch out on the boundless ocean of grace. Oh, just consider! God has made Himself available, for a full depth of acquaintance, and His unsearchable wealth accessible to the complete acquisition of our faith. What a privilege we have to look, by spiritual illumination of the Scripture through heaven’s door right into eternity. Does not our heart burn within us as He opens to us the Scripture? How graciously He opens unto receptive hearts one door of instruction after another, showing us what must be hereafter. As He communicates to our hearts, we are made to realize we will enjoy most, “the hereafter” as we allow Him to work in our lives that which must be here.

TRANSLATION AND SO MUCH MORE: Considering Revelation  3:7-8, I am reminded of Brother C. E. Foster speaking of this letter to the Church of Philadelphia, as the Church of the “Open Door.”

“HE HAS THE KEYS:” He knows our works, the holy and true, opener and shutter, says to those who have ears to hear, “Behold, I have set before thee an open door” which includes translation and I am sure so much more. We are encouraged to look to that which is within, and beyond, within our Father’s heart and home, beyond all human reasoning. He urges us come on, come on in.

“FOR THOU HAST:” He is ready to reward those of “little strength,” lacking in self-sufficency, yet powerfully enabled to go on, and go in, and take all that His grace had provided. He is speaking to those who are dependent upon Him to sustain and guide, leading through the deepest depths unto the uttermost heights. Those that really appreciate His gentle favors are the ones He continues to open up for.

“THOU HAST KEPT MY WORD:” His people are of tough, firm, yet tender resolve, who put to practical use the “little strength.” To them, what He has to say is extremely important. They give the more earnest heed, and embrace His Word to their bosom as dear and precious. They are nourished thereby, hiding it in their hearts, and walk in the light thereof. They become set for the defense of the Gospel, and are striving together for (in interest of) the faith of the Gospel. Oh Yes, he opens doors for all that realize their continual need for His Word, as their daily sustenance. It works effectually in them, for they believe it all. These appreciate sound doctrine, holding fast the form of sound words. They do not add to or take from, but are diligent to rightly divide, and see its fruit multiplied. We gladly keep His Word, because it is His. He is the one that has committed it to our trust. What a treasure! We usually want to keep those things given to us by the ones we love.

“NOT DENIED MY NAME:” Let us not deny Him in any aspect of our life. Let us always give Him free access to every detail. If we gladly submit to His headship or Lordship, all our doing will be for His glory (I Cor. 10:31); in His name (Col. 3:17); with thanksgiving, wholeheartedly (Col. 3:23-24) by divine enablement. With all that He has set before us, we are challenged to approach with confidence His throne of unlimited access, for He sets before us an open door.
by J. D.