The Door Is Closed

by Micky Galloway

In our last article we discussed “An Open Door.” We noted the words of the angel of the church in Philadelphia, “These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth: I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut)” (Revelation 3:7-8). The Lord opens doors for those who have prepared themselves. However, there are some doors that are closed.

Some doors are closed and cannot be opened. When God instructed Noah to build the ark, he was told, “the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof” (Genesis 6:16). After Noah had prepared the ark, “And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him: and Jehovah shut him in” (Genesis 7:15-16). The text follows, “And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle, and beasts, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. And every living thing was destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark” (Genesis 7:21-23). The saved were in the ark, God shut the door. All those on the outside perished, for they could not open the door!

In the parable of the ten virgins, the bridegroom came while those who were foolish and unprepared went away to buy more oil. “They that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not” (Matthew 25:10-12). The door was shut and they could not enter!

Why are some doors closed? Some doors are closed to keep enemies out and those within safe from harm. In John 10 Jesus uses an allegory in which he describes himself as the “good shepherd,” and as the “door of the sheepfold.” Jesus is the only way into the peace and safety of the sheepfold. Jesus, the true shepherd and door of the sheepfold, sacrificed Himself that we might have life, and that “more abundantly.” Those who continue to hear His voice enjoy His protection and security (John 10:7-11). Some doors are closed to keep people in. In Acts 12:6 we read of Peter “sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison.” In Acts 16:26-27 in Philippi we read, “and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.” These “doors” were closed to keep prisoners in. Doors are sometimes closed for privacy. To avoid the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders, Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee” (Matthew 6:6). After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were meeting behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jews. “When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first (day) of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace (be) unto you” (John 20:19).

We can open doors. We are to pray “that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ” (cf. Colossians 4:2-4). Through the preaching of Paul and Barnabas, God had “opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27), “cleansing their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9). He had provided Gentiles the opportunity to have faith through the preaching of these men (cf. Romans 10:17). And what about the door of your heart? Jesus said, “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. He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:20-21).

One last door. As Jesus was teaching one asked, “Lord are they few that are saved?” Jesus answered, “Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are; then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets; and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:24-27). The door was shut and they could not open it! Jesus had turned the question around. One had asked, “Lord are they few that are saved?” Jesus asked, “Will the saved be you?”