The Open Door
Devotions for Growing Christians
The Open Door
Christians often use imagery of “open doors” and “closed doors” when talking about God’s will in their lives. With that in mind, the biblical promise in Revelation 3 of “an open door that no one can shut” sounds almost too good to be true! Does this mean God is promising me an open door to a better job and no employer will be able to refuse hiring me? Does it mean I can move anywhere I want and God will bless that decision and work everything out? Does it mean I will finally meet and marry the man or woman I’ve been waiting for?
Unfortunately, the answer to all these hypothetical questions is simply, “No.” Although this verse may be widely used for inspirational Christian quotes and feel-good devotionals, Revelation 3:8 actually has nothing to do with things like that. Well-meaning Christians have jumped to hasty conclusions and wrongly applied Revelation 3:8 to all kinds of "doors.” Sadly, the improper application of Bible promises can leave believers bitterly disappointed when "open doors" don’t materialize. So what does this promise in Revelation 3:8 refer to, and how should Christians apply this promise today?
When determining a proper application for any Scripture, including promises, one of the basic rules is: Always start with the question, "What did it mean then?" In other words, we must ask:
- To whom was the promise originally made?
- Under what precise conditions was the promise given?
Then we can move on to the question, "How do we apply it now?" After constructing the historical framework, we can move to a well-grounded, proper application for today. We should never just jump on any promise of the Bible and immediately apply it to any situation we face today.
Background
The promise of the “open door” is found in one of the letters addressed to the Seven Churches in Revelation 2 and 3. These first century churches were located in the province of Asia that was part of the Roman Empire (now the nation of Turkey). In the seven letters, the Lord spoke directly to the churches about their spiritual condition. He commended them for their good points, and called out their shortcomings.
He gave this promise of the “open door” to the church in Philadelphia. (Remember, we’re talking about ancient Asia, not the current-city in Pennsylvania.) Although the church in Philadelphia was just a small feeble church, they had kept the Lord's Word. They had not denied Him, even in the face of increasing pressure and persecution from the pagan Roman world. They had not contaminated their message with a watered-down view of the Person and work of Christ. (This false teaching developed into the second century heretical movement known as Gnosticism.)
Because of their faithfulness, the Lord promised the church of Philadelphia an open door of opportunity to advance God's kingdom. We don't know any details of how they took advantage this “door,” but we know that an amazing Christian testimony continued at Philadelphia, despite the Roman persecution that snuffed out many other early churches. In later centuries, when Islam swept across the area, Philadelphia was a Christian island in a sea of Islam.
As a side note, a deeper study of the letters to the Seven churches shows that they may represent successive stages of Church history. We won’t get into this here, but it’s a great study for anyone who might be interested.
Look for “Open Doors”
The fact that the Letters to the Seven Churches are included in the Bible is evidence that God intended them to be used by His people beyond the first century. The letters are certainly relevant for Christian churches today. The spiritual condition of every church is still important to the Lord, and any Christ-centered church can claim the promise of the open door today. Regardless of the size or strength of a church, there will definitely be an open door opportunity to advance the kingdom of God. It may be an active youth group, an inner-city or college campus outreach, a food pantry, a prison ministry, foreign missions emphasis, or a Christian website or podcast.
If you happen to be part of a struggling church where not much is happening, don’t despair! As long as your church is made up of believers who love the Lord and His Word, the open door promise is as good for you as for the church of Philadelphia. Look for it! But remember, the open door must be entered. Going through the door isn’t automatic, and it’s not part of the promise. Perhaps YOU are the individual that God is raising up to lead your congregation through the door of service that God has opened for your church.
Personal Application
Is it valid for individual Christians to claim this promise today? Should we look for the open doors that God has personally given us? Yes! But again, remember that it’s a door of opportunity to serve the Lord, not a guarantee of a better job or personal life. The open door is a God-given opportunity for you to personally advance His Kingdom.
This doesn’t mean that the Lord is calling you to go into full-time ministry or an up-front leader in your church. Your open door may be with a youth group or Sunday school, as faithful and caring teacher and mentor. Your door of opportunity may be sharing of your faith in an office, on a campus, or in your neighborhood, starting with your own family.
We could list all kinds of possibilities, but the important truth is that right now there’s an open door for service. Go for it! The more you get involved using your natural abilities and gifts for Christ, the more clearly you’ll see your door of opportunity. Further areas of service will become obvious as you take advantage of new opportunities. Don’t miss the door that the Lord Himself has opened for each one of us as individual growing Christians.
- Dave Reid
(Updated 2021, Ron Reid)