Man With The Keys

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"But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries." (I Cor. 16:8,9)

I don't think any Christian has had a "door opened" for him but he did not at the same time find "many adversaries" arise with intentions of blocking entrance through those doors.

"Open doors" is simply a way of saying the Lord provides opportunities for us to serve God, to do his will, to be useful to him.

So Paul also said -- "As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good..." (Gal. 6: 10)

"As we have opportunity" is all the same as "as doors are opened." This is a fitting connection, between the words "opportunity" and "doors." People use them together when they say, "opportunity is knocking."

So many times in life we encounter "closed doors." Some doors ought to be closed to us, of course. We depend upon the Lord to both "open" and "close" doors in our lives. Jesus is the one with all power and authority to open and close doors.

"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." (Rev. 3:7)

Jesus did not say there would be no "adversaries" to attempt to "close doors" the Lord has "opened"; nor that there would be no one who would attempt to "open doors" he has providentially "closed." No, rather, what he has promised is to keep the adveraries from succeeding. The adversaries may try to close what the Lord has opened, to open what he has closed, but it will all be in vain.

The Lord is the "doorkeeper" in our lives as well as in all other things. He holds the "keys" to open and lock doors, the "door of salvation," and the "door of hope," and the "door of faith," etc. He certainly holds the keys to success in our lives, the keys to happy life, peace, and joy. Jesus is truly the "man with all the keys."

It is not a good experience, generally, to be "locked out." It is not good to be at a door, desiring entrance, but finding it locked and ourselves with no key to unlock the door. How glad we are when the "man with the keys" comes on the scene and opens to us!

Oh that we would pray to this One who has the "keys" and for him to open doors of good, doors of opporunity, for us! Oh that we would have this same One, at the same time, to "close" and "lock" doors that we are contemplating entering, doors that lead to desolation and to places we really don't want to go.

Are you, Christian friend, asking the Lord to open doors for you? Do you need him to close some doors for you, doors that have led you to disaster? Then call upon him to do what he stands ready to do for you.

Are you, my sinner friend, needing the Lord to deliver you from the prison cell of sin? Do you need him to unlock the prison door and free you from your sin? He is able to do it. Come then to the "man with the keys" and ask him to open what doors need opening and to close those doors that need closing.