We see this exemplified in Scriptures such as Job 11:10 which says - "If He cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder Him?"

 

What does this mean? "Cut off' means to rush on or assail. It also means to make a change or cause to pass on or away.

 

Therefore, this particular Scripture is telling us that if God, in His unlimited and Almighty Power, should choose to call a man into judgment, who could possibly answer him or resist Him?

If He should make a change in a man's life or in the happenings of a family, ministry, church, business, neighborhood, or nation, who can possibly turn Him away?

If He should cause something or someone which He may have originally given to us to pass on or away from us, which of us will challenge His decision?

If He decides to "shut up" an individual in a "prison" of afflictions, troubles, great sorrows, persecutions, and fiery trials for a season, which of us will question His actions?

If He should "gather together" a people to believe a certain way or to move in a certain direction, who are we to try to undo what He has done?

 

Another Scripture to examine at this point is Job 12:14 - "Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening."

 

We certainly can see the finality of God's actions here. Once He does something, man or the devil can not undo it.

 

If He should choose to destroy what He created, who could possibly question Him?

If He should take away, who can hinder Him?

If He breaks down things in our lives that are not in keeping with His plan for us, which of us would then dare to repair it?

 

Once He "shutteth up a man" in difficulties and straits, no amount of prayer and fasting can move Him until His purposes are fulfilled in the action.

 

The Scriptures tell us that the Lord Jesus has the "key of David"  -

 

Isaiah 22:22 - "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon His shoulder..."

Revelation 3:7 - "...These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, HE THAT HATH THE KEY OF DAVID..."

 

What does this entail? The "key" was a symbol of power. To have the "keys" meant that one was entrusted with the highest authority in government and had the promise of unlimited power. 

 

There are many explanations for the words - "And the key...will I lay upon His shoulder..." The most common interpretation was that a "key" was embroidered upon the shoulder of the cloak or the robe as a badge or emblem of office. Another thought is that an actual "key" was attached to the shoulder by a strap or a belt and worn as a sign of authority.

 

We recognize the unlimited extent of the Lord Jesus' power in office by His exclusive authority to carry out an action which no one could possibly reverse - 

 

Isaiah 22:22 - "...so He shall open, and none shall shut; and He shall shut, and none shall open."
Revelation 3:7 - "...HE THAT OPENETH, AND NO MAN SHUTTETH; AND SHUTTETH, AND NO MAN OPENETH."

 

 

Acts 14:27 tells us of how God opened the door for the Gospel to be preached to the Gentiles - "And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles."  

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:9 relates to us of how the Lord gave him an abundant opportunity to preach the Gospel in Ephesus - "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me..."

He also reports in 2 Corinthians 2:12 how the Lord gave him occasion in Troas to preach - "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord."

 

 

Once God opened the way for the Gospel to be preached to the Gentiles in Ephesus, Troas, and around the world, no man or devil was able to stop it. God, in His Sovereignty, opened the door, and no man could shut it.

 

 

Genesis 3:23-24 tells us how the LORD GOD closed the door to the garden of Eden to Adam and Eve after they disobeyed by eating of the forbidden fruit - "Therefore the LORD GOD sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Once God cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden, there was no reversing of his decision. He closed the door, and no one was able to open it again.

 

Genesis 7:16 records the event of the door of the ark being closed to the wicked and ungodly generation to whom Noah preached repentance for 120 years - "And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him(Noah) in."

 

For this extended time, the longsuffering of God reached out to the people of Noah's day. Instead of turning from their sins, they mocked and scorned the preacher of righteousness who called them to holiness of living. The day came for God to "shut the door" on the ark and pour our His wrath and judgment on the sinners for their wickedness. Once He closed the door of the ark, there was no opening it again. No matter how the people banged on the door and screamed for Him to give them a second chance - It was too late. God closed the door, and no man was able to open it again - not even Noah.

 

In Matthew 25:10 we read of the five foolish virgins who were not ready for the Bridegroom's Coming. They did not have enough oil in their lamps. While they were out buying more oil, the Bridegroom came. Those five wise virgins who were ready, "went in with Him to the marriage." The verse ends by saying - "...and the door was shut."

 

Matthew 25:11-12 - It did not matter how much coaxing the other five virgins did when they got back from the market. The Bridegroom would not open the door - "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." The door was shut by the Bridegroom, and no man was ever going to open it again.

 

Luke 13:25 relates a similar account where the master of the house rises up and shuts the door - "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, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are."

 

Luke 13:26 - Once again the people begin to reason with the master - "...We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets."

 

Luke 13:27 - But once the door is shut, none can open it again - "...I know ye not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."

 

 

Has God opened a "door" for you recently? This "open door" is a privilege or an honor that He has bestowed upon you to do some special work in His kingdom.

 

What are you doing with this "open door"?

Can the Lord see that you are faithful in carrying out your assignment from Him? 

Remember, the same God Who opened this mighty door of opportunity can also close the door if you are found careless or slothful.

 

Has God recently "shut a door"  in your life?

What was your reaction?

Were you angry and embittered?

Or did you readily accept the fact that He has something much better in store for you?

 

You may not like the "new door" that He has opened for you. It requires you to change and grow in areas where you are very weak in character. No amount of wheedling and crying is going to reverse His plan for you. If you go along with His program, you will come out a better person in the end.

 

You may be feeling very discouraged and depressed over a recent "closed door." This opportunity was a delight to you. For once in your life, you felt loved and fulfilled, only to have the "door" shut in your face. God has a plan. He is in control. He is not limited by one opportunity for advancement in your life. Just trust Him that the next door will far exceed the past one and bring you into greater Joy and Satisfaction. God is a Good God with innumerable Gifts. When He takes something away from you, it is because He has something far better in store. You can count on that!

 

Perhaps you find yourself in a transitional place where God has closed one door and not yet opened the next. What are you doing? Are you patiently waiting on the Lord, or have you in your impatience taken matters into your own hands and gone back and tried to "open the shut door"?

 

 

No amount of persuasion will ever change His mind. He has a plan that He is working out for each one of us. We must leave the closed doors closed and take hold of the open doors that He is placing before us. It is always hard to wait - but it is always worth it in the end.

 

In closing, let the words of the LORD GOD through the Prophet Isaiah encourage you this day -

 

Isaiah 42:9 - "Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them."

Isaiah 43:19 - "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

 

 

If Jesus Christ is Lord of your life, then your times are in His hands.

He will open doors for you that none can shut and shut doors that none can ever open again.

Turn your back to all the closed doors this day and set your face toward the door that He is getting ready to open unto you.

 

 

As long as we remain faithful and true to the Lord Jesus, we have a wonderful and glorious future ahead of us.

 

 

Copyright 2003 by Connie Giordano