"Open doors” is an expression commonly used for building relationships, sharing your faith, finding ways to love people, praying for answers, looking for opportunities and seeking work. We want to make sure that doors are opening and we can see them sufficiently to enter, walk through or take a step of faith.
An expression that is used less is “closed doors.” It seems to carry a negative connotation. However, there are places where “closed doors” is a better expression- desperately needed. We need to “close doors” in exercising discipline, shutting out error, eliminating harmful distractions, curtailing the influence of destructive people, saying “No!” to sin and Satan. We need to close the door on many opportunities. I think destructive opportunities are more prevalent than constructive ones. An open door makes little sense if there are too many. The only way you get access to the right door is to shut the others. It just sounds negative. It seems like it is more acceptable to say “Yes” than “No.” But, the “no” still works in certain situations.
One such situation where “closed doors” is suitable is in regard to our commitment to relationships. People too often enter relationships keeping the doors for escape at least cracked-open if not wide-open. Think about it. Keeping doors open for our own escape is convenient, but is contrary to the idea of a committed relationship and real community. It cannot be a committed relationship if we have escape clauses, making sure we can get out of the relationship the moment it becomes too uncomfortable or requires too much of us. “Closed doors” seems suffocating or restricting in relationship. But, the fact is, the only way we ever build a loving, lasting and safe relationship is to enter it with the commitment to close all doors and loopholes that would allow us easy exit. The most valuable relationships in my life are those where people have made commitments to me and I to them that has demonstrated that we are in it for the long haul, without escape. Good things come when we close doors that allow us to jump out of relationships when they require sacrificial love.
Satan provided Jesus some doors for escape. The cross was Jesus’ demonstration that he was closing all other options. I’ve closed the door in several relationships- not the door to get into the relationship, but the door for escape. I’m in it for the long haul and I love it.
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