Walking Through Open Doors, Even During Times of Adversity

Introduction

AMG Bible Illustrations The Open Door

A party of friends wanted to enter a quaint old parish church. Going to the sexton to ask for the key, they received it with the promise that he would join them at the earliest opportunity. When he met them he found them still standing before the door, endeavoring to open it with the ponderous key. Taking the key out of their hands he said, “Excuse me; I should have told you that the door was open.” Then he lifted the latch, and the crowd entered the sanctuary without further bother. One who tries to open an unlocked door with a key will have to stay outside.

This week, I was able to spend time with a number of our board members at Columbia International University. It was a great experience—an experience that I honestly could not have imagined I would have in my life. In fact, one of the board members stated over dinner, “What am I doing at this table? As I hear the stories of all the people in the room and the things they’ve done/ places they’ve gone, I don’t belong here.” Little did he know I was feeling the same way, except my statements were justified because I really had no business being there and was only the driver for one of the board members in attendance. Yet, the experience was incredible.

As I listened to the stories and experiences shared, I thought just how amazing God is. There are no limits to the places you can go and the things you can do when God is in control. More importantly what I have learned is that no amount of success can truly be earned. Success is God’s payment for one’s share of work towards a dream or vision. And since this payment is not solely dependent on one’s work, but God’s providence, one must truly consider the element of God’s divine influence in their life. Nothing that is achieved in life is a mere result of our efforts. There are several Scriptures that speak of this:

Proverbs 19:21 CSB

21 Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.

Proverbs 16:9 CSB

9 A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:33 CSB

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Essentially, what I am saying is we all need open doors and opportunities granted from some higher power who is in control of things in a way we are not. This is what I call “accidental success.”

It is not that the success is accidental in that it is not planned. It is the timing of the success that is accidental. For, there are some that work and work as if success or the perfect life, or the perfect bank portfolio is achieved by some secret equation. It doesn’t work that way, unfortunately. It is obvious, Paul understood this and he wrote in verse 9 that God has given him an “open door.”

Paul’s use of the word μέγας represents an out of the ordinary or remarkable opportunity. It is a large, great, and surprising opportunity. Friends, if you want to be successful, just keep on working and doing the will of God. God will grant an opportunity to you when you expect it least. However, we hardly see this opportunity coming, because we are facing what is called Ephesus.

Seeing Your Opportunity While In Ephesus

In 1 Corinthians 16:8, Paul references staying in Ephesus.

Notable facts about Ephesus:

Was located on the west coast of Asian Minor

Made the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor by Augustus

The third largest city in the Roman empire with a population of approximately 250,000 people

Major commercial port who experienced tons of growth and benefited economically from the idea of Pax Romana (Peace of Rome)

Several pagan religious, including the notable Artemis (Diana) cult with its temple

Goddess of fertility, magic, and astrology

Paul’s time in Ephesus is noted in Acts 19-20. The city of Ephesus was a place of pagan worship and sorcery. There were cult leaders that participated in various practices along with the citizens of the city.

In Acts 19 there was a major revival and turning away from the seductive sorcery of a culture that was committed to paganism. There were three things that can be seen as sacred challenges to the gospel being preached:

Our business

Our wealth

Our temple- (Our religion)

These culture impacts are still relevant and present in the world today. Yet, in the midst of all of these challenges there was an wide-open door. In the middle of controversy there is a great opportunity for God’s glory.