even more on open doors

in a previous post, i wrote that if God closes a door, no one can open it. if God opens a door, no one can close it. at the same time, an open door is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for taking a particular path. however, i agree that:

Just because a door is seemingly open doesn't mean we should walk through it, and just because a door is seemingly closed doesn't mean we shouldn't knock it down and walk through it.

- Burk Parsons, Interview with Tim Challies

to this end, i would like to make two distinctions regarding open and closed doors.

firstly, there is a difference between God holding open a door and God opening a door. if God holds open a door, no one can close it. however, if God opens a door, no one can close it we may or may not be able to close it.

secondly, there is a difference between God locking a door and God closing a door. if God locks a door, no one can open it. however, if God closes a door, no one can open it we may or may not be able to open it.

God ordains the ends (ie. His sovereign will of decree), but He also ordains the means (ie. our free choices) by which He accomplishes His sovereign will of decree.

the danger of waiting for God to close an open door for us is that sometimes God calls us to close it ourselves. equally, the danger of waiting for God to open a closed door for us is that sometimes God calls us to open it ourselves.

Just Do Something

God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him.

We know God has a plan for our lives. That's wonderful. The problem is we think He's going to tell us the wonderful plan before it unfolds. We feel like we can know - and need to know - what God wants every step of the way. But such preoccupation with finding God's will, as well-intentioned as the desire may be, is more folly than freedom.

The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we're going.

- Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something

*****

the idea that an open door is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for taking a particular path is not open theism. just because we freely choose which doors we take does not mean that God does not ordain which doors we take. God does ordain which doors we take.

after all, it is God who - knowing which doors we would take under different circumstances - creates the best possible world in which all the doors we take (and not take) work for His glory and 'for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).

the life, death and resurrection of Christ opens the door of the prison of sin for all men, who are then free to accept or reject Christ. of course, man is utterly responsible for sin and God is utterly responsible for salvation.

in one sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved. in another sense, Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved. Christ's life, death and resurrection is sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we are justified by faith in Christ alone. Christ's life, death and resurrection is not sufficient for all to be saved in the sense that we have to appropriate Christ's life, death and resurrection by the instrument of faith.

links: open doors (18 apr 09), more on open doors (22 jul 09)