In life, we experience all sorts of doors opening and closing. It is a blessing when we have open doors, which signify good things coming our way. It may be in having a promotion at our workplace, finding the right wife or husband, getting a lucrative contract, or obtaining a scholarship for further studies. Any of these things can make life better and the future brighter. Therefore, everyone desires and prays for open doors.
When a door opens for good, we rejoice and praise God. But when we consider a door closed, we consider it a thing of regret and sadness. But the doors are opened or closed by God to fulfill His purpose. Revelation 3:7-8 says, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens…”
This is why I love 1 Thessalonians 5:16, which says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We are enjoined to thank God in all situations – whether of an open or closed door -because God uses both to fulfil His purpose for our lives. Romans 8:28 (NKJV) says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
When we have an open door, we must be sure that it is from God. Of course, when God opens a door for you, it must not contradict His Word. For instance, not every opportunity to make money is an open door from God. Any means of getting more money that makes you lose interest in regular fellowship or service in church cannot be from God.
This is why I admire people who have made it materially and still remain faithful in serving God. They know that God is the source of their wealth. Deuteronomy 18:8 says, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
A door which God opens for you will require you to depend on Him. God who opens the door for you must be first in your life and you must always need Him to prosper. The direction, guidance and protection of God are necessary to enjoy an open door from Him.
The same God who opens a door also closes it for your own good. If you think over your life, you have cause to thank God for closing certain doors. Therefore, certain doors are closed for your own good or blessing.
I think of Noah’s ark, which God gave the specifications for its building. Genesis 7:16 (NASB) says, “Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God commanded him; and the LORD closed the door behind him.” The blessing of Noah and all those in the ark started from the moment the door was closed by God. God closed the womb of Sarah for good. He also closed the womb of Hannah to bless her. He does so to fulfil His purpose
In 1978, God closed and opened giant doors in my life. As the marketing manager of my company, I desired to excel and make a career in marketing management. After several local trainings, I applied and got admission for a six-week course of the International Marketing Institute (IMI), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. However, my boss did not approve it and withheld the financial support. Luckily, with the grants from IMI and my own resources, I was able to make it.
On my return, I lost the favour of my boss and our relationship became sour. That closed my door of prospering in the company. I looked around for other marketing openings but found no suitable one. The door was closed.
God Himself then opened the door of pharmaceutical journal publishing, which He had already planned for me. It was then that I realised that even the marketing programme I had attended was to equip me for my own business.
God kept away all financial expenses – boarding, tuition and airfare – from my company so that it would not claim His glory for my training.
