What God Opens

We heard a sermon today in church about ‘books opened’ by the Ancient of Days in heaven concerning judgment (Daniel 7:10). Indeed, strewn throughout scriptures we read of God opening and closing depending on the situation. Thankfully, we serve One who opens the best way where there seems to be no way. He did exactly that with Moses and the Red Sea experience (Exodus 14:29). On the other hand, God closed the mouths of lions from devouring Daniel (Daniel 6:22). Even when we cannot detect His presence, God is working every moment on our behalf within our individual capabilities “For from of old no one has heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and shows Himself active on behalf of him who [earnestly] waits for Him (Isaiah 64:4 Amp).

To illustrate further, let’s think about a great army surrounding a city in the Old Testament where doom and destruction appeared fatal. The servant of Elisha the prophet manifested great fear and cried, “My master! What shall we do? Elisha answered, do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. And Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray, open his [my servant’s] eyes that he may see” (2 Kings 6:14-17 NKJV). Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw a glorious sight. Standing strong and vast, the mountain teemed with supernatural horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. God showed up.

In the book of Acts we find another example of God’s omnipotence. A particular woman named Lydia lived in Thyatira, selling purple material and heard about Jesus through Paul “The Lord opened her [Lydia’s] heart to heed the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14-15). After Lydia and the servants were baptized she begged Paul to come and stay in her house for more fellowship. Not only did Lydia believe upon the Lord after He opened her heart but she witnessed boldly, bringing her whole household into saving faith.

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true.’ “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it” (Revelation 3:7-8 NKJV).