WALKING INTO DOORS | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: WALKING INTO DOORS | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jason Barnett
05/08/14
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If you walk into a closed door then you are probably going to smash your face. Most doors are simple enough to notice, they are made of wood or steel and painted in array of colors that make their positions obvious. Others are made of clear glass, wiped so clean that they are almost invisible to the naked eye. Those are the ones most of smash into. But every once in a while we ignore the obvious signs that a door is present, and we walk right into it.

In our spiritual lives, often we do the same thing. God closes a door, usually giving us multiple warnings that the way is not open. Instead of submitting to His will, we ignore the warnings and push on by our own strength to accomplish whatever task without God’s help. The end result is usually way worse then a simple bonk on the noodle.

In the Bible we read about King Zedekiah, and all we know about him is that Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the Lord. And to make matters much worse, he decided to backstab one of the most powerful rulers of the ancient world, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Because of Zedekiah’s treachery, Nebuchadnezzar sent his army to Jerusalem to subdue his wayward subordinate.

Not knowing what do, Zedekiah goes to the prophets for advice. All the prophets told Zedekiah “stand up to the King, God will save you,” except for one. This one was Jeremiah, who rather than telling the king what he wanted to hear, told Zedekiah surrender or you are all going to die. Multiple times Jeremiah spoke truth to Zedekiah, but the king refused to listen. Jeremiah was even thrown into prison for speaking the truth.

Despite God using Jeremiah to warn him, Zedekiah walked into the huge steel door right in front of him. For the day came and the defenses that were holding the forces of Babylon at bay failed. Zedekiah and his family fled for their lives, but they could not out run their enemy. As punishment, Nebuchadnezzar had all of Zedekiah’s sons executed in front him before gauging out his eyes. The last thing Zedekiah would ever see was his whole world crashing in on him.

What would have happened if Zedekiah had listened to God’s servant Jeremiah? We will never know; the only thing we can do is use Zedekiah’s failure as a reminder that when God is showing us a closed door, do not open it! The consequences may not be as drastic as death, but going against the will of God only ends in our folly.

How do we know if God has closed a door? We seek Him out by praying and reading His Word. It is by seeking after His kingdom and His righteousness that our eyes will be opened to the paths God has for us.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that YOU may PROVE what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)

Bible references to the story of Zedekiah: 2 Kings 24:17-20,25; 2 Chronicles 36:11-13; also read the book of Jeremiah

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