Closed doors...we see them everywhere. We think little of the closed doors that we can physically walk toward and push open in order to get through. Somehow the ability for us to persevere toward and through such an obstacle is nothing for us because we have done it before. Of course sometimes a door is locked. That usually requires on our part then a little more effort. Maybe it is resolved by reaching into our pocket and pulling out the necessary key. Maybe it is resolved by walking around to the other side of the building or the next nearest door that is open. In any case, very often this is our reality, but we find the steadfastness within us to overcome the problem. And then there are other times when we approach a door to our favorite store that isn't opened. The solution to that is rather than walk away and say, "Well I guess it wasn't supposed to be" we instead look at our clock and realize it is locked because we are there too early and in the next 5 minutes that store will be open. The simple fact is this: often times we encounter a closed door, and that doesn't cause us to conclude we aren't to get into the area on the other side.
When did so many of us as Christians concede to the closed door as God's will that we discontinue our efforts? When did our theology become such a faithless, conceding, downtrodden practice? Now make no mistake, I believe fully that God absolutely closes doors that aren't to be opened (Acts 16:7), but increasingly my conviction grows from Scripture that not only are closed doors are aimed not to cause us to quit, but rather to continue. Too closed doors are the plan and purpose of God. Now let me qualify this. By closed doors I am speaking of opposition and difficulty involved in a situation in which one believes they are being called by God.
Consider: Peter and John. We come to a day when they healed a man outside the entrance to the temple square (Acts 4). This caused a great number to follow the Jesus they proclaimed, and it caused a great disturbance to grow among the Sanhedrin. Ultimately they were firmly rebuked and threatened if they continued to proclaim Jesus. If ever there was reason to stop, that would be sufficient reason. But they are doing the will of God, so why should it be difficult? Was God's blessing not on them? Was His favor removed? Were they somehow in sin that this great oppression would fall on them? None of the above!
As they were released they reflected and concluded something profound. Christ, the one who walked in perfect obedience to the will of the Father, faced oppression, threats, and an ultimately violent death at the hands of wicked and sinful men. But why God? Where are you God? The disturbing part of this story (humanly speaking) is that God, the Father of Jesus, orchestrated the entire thing (Acts 4:24-28). And so their prayer about the oppression they faced was not a confession of conceding because it must not be God's will. No, but rather it was a deeper, firmer, more steadfast commitment to continue because this was every bit God's will and design. And so they asked for more boldness to speak what they were warned not to speak.
And so oppression, threats, doubts of others, of my own - all great reasons to quit the efforts to see God use us to make CHRIST known, even as HE plants a church with us as servants, right?. NEVER! Opposition should cause us instead to consider that this is only further evidence of HIS calling, HIS affirmation. And in all this HE deepens our dependence upon HIM. And HE makes us more like Christ. So rejoice! God is at work, even as He closes doors, disturbs situations around us.
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