Jun 25 – HE WHO OPENS AND SHUTS !

“He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” (Revelation 3:7).

In the New Testament, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes considered themselves God’s representatives holding the key to the kingdom of heaven. But in reality they were the ones who locked out the kingdom of heaven. Neither did they enter in; nor did they allow others who wanted to enter.

The Lord opens doors. Jericho was closed before the Israelites. As God’s people went around it with praise, Jericho’s walls crumbled; the gates of bronze and the bars of iron were broken. Yes, the Lord indeed opens the doors that cannot be shut. What gates are closed before you today? If only you will walk around with praise in your hearts, the Lord shall open all those doors for you. The Lord indeed opened a great and favourable door of faith for Apostle Paul to preach the gospel in Ephesus (Acts 14:27).

The Lord decided to open the door for the Israelites to be released from Egypt. Pharaoh and his armies tried to close the gate. In spite of God sending many plagues, the Pharaoh did not relent; and did not give freedom to the Israelites. In the end, Pharaoh and his whole army perished in the Red Sea. But to the children of God, the Lord shall open a blessed door for them.

Our Lord is also the One who shuts that cannot be opened. When the Lord locks the door, no one can open it. If He shuts up the sky, there will be famine without rain. If He shuts up His blessings, there will be abject poverty and sorrow everywhere. In the early days, people wanted to build the Tower of Babel to make themselves famous. But God destroyed all their efforts; and made them to scatter all over the face of the earth.

Children of God, when wicked people try to do evil against you, the Lord shuts their ways and their schemes. Laban came to harm Jacob. Pharaoh came to harm Abraham. Abimelech came to harm Isaac. But the Lord shut and blocked all their evil ways.

After God brought Noah, his family, and all living creatures into the ark, God himself shut the doors of the ark. When the rains came down and flooded the earth, many of the others might have tried to somehow enter into the ark; but none of them could enter in. Today the door of the ark that is Christ is open. And the Lord lovingly calls all the sinners; all those who mourn and are heavy laden to come unto Him. He promises never to forsake and turn away anyone who comes unto Him in faith.

Children of God, remember that someday the doors of grace will be closed. So take advantage of the time. Run now and enter the ark that is Christ.

Verse for further meditation: “If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; if He imprisons a man, there can be no release” (Job 12:14).