One must remember that God is an intervener, not a controller. Sometimes He leaves a door open; other times He shuts the door. Always, He monitors the many doors of His realm. Humans can use a door paradigm to manage their lives, whether they be spiritual or material-based. God will lock doors, but retains the privilege to speak through them. It is difficult for humans to unlock their doors or hear through them.
Often, the phrase “God is in control” is uttered from a person who is in a desperate situation. Relying on the power and sovereignty of God will anchor hope; however, saying God is in control is not a complete picture. God’s idea of universal management is to set up systems with elements designed to function in a certain way. This allows for a multitude of life scenarios complete with surprises and disappointments. Why would God rob Himself of the joy of seeing all things work together? He doesn’t have to direct every new move every new day because it was determined in the word of creation.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3 (NIV)
It is true God is in control, but on His terms. He has set standards, with corresponding good outcomes and bad outcomes, in the design of creation. On occasion, and very often, He will consciously intervene on behalf of creation because of the bad choices of mankind.
Bad things happen as an outcome of not acknowledging God. It all started in the Garden of Eden. The first intervention came from the blood of the animal that provided a skin to cover the first man’s nakedness. The most glorious intervention comes from the blood of Jesus, who covers all of mankind’s nakedness, if we only acknowledge God. Now, the Lord has not left us to the wind to be victims of bad choices. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us in our thinking. He gives us grace so that we can follow through with proper choices as He allows us to participate in the wondrous, dynamic existence of creation.
The Door of Life
Let us get back to the door model of life management. The general idea is that our lives are affected by what we allow to enter our dwelling place, the place we live. That includes both a material house and a spiritual house. The bungalow on a corner lot is easy to picture; the abode constructed in the mind, body, and spirit is often invisible. It can be discernible by acts, behaviors, countenance, and words. Here is an example of the mechanics: A person hears or reads a lie. That lie is not properly considered as it comes through the door and becomes a fixture in the dwelling. In an uncontrolled instant, the lie escapes out the unguarded door and finds another door to enter. The ripple effect at some point demands intervention before it leads to complete ruin.
Consider the complete ruin of Jonestown. This was a religious community that was based on lies (apostolic socialism) that dwelt in a magnetic leader. They believed him, and he believed himself. It became unbridled madness. In the end, 918 souls were led into a mass suicide, utter destruction. The man did not guard his door to the idea of apostolic socialism, and it became a fixture in his life. As he shared this worldview with others, and they embraced the lie, the lie became more outreaching and powerful through the ripple effect. There was a failure to acknowledge the God of Heaven, and God shut the door. God did still speak through the door, and some escaped. Consider this: God’s intervention for the many people of the Earth not yet infected by the lie outside the guilty community came in the form of obliteration. Sodom and Gomorrah faced a similar fate as described in the Bible, Book of Genesis, chapter nineteen.
God can exact control by creation. The wrath of the Egyptian Pharaoh towards the people of Israel was controlled by a dry path in the Red Sea. The unbridled wickedness of humans was controlled by a flood in a former time. The written word of God exerts control by setting forth standards, declaring divine precepts, and offering hope. There have been, and will be, large-scale interventions (and corrections), and there will be some on a personal scale.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (NIV)
The Large Scale
Large-scale changes are often catastrophic, with much collateral damage to those who seem innocent. Their guilt is due to the principle of federal headship; the organization of which they were a part was guilty, so then are the members. The doctrine of federal headship can be seen when Korah and his whole family were swallowed up by the earth after he rebelled against Moses (Numbers 16:31-33). Then there was Achan. He failed to acknowledge God by taking forbidden plunder from the battle of Jericho. The whole nation came under a curse and lost the next battle at Ai. God intervened by the execution of Achan, his family, and his animals, and destroyed all that he had. Now, consider the ultimate intervention. Jesus was born to be our federal head. He died for us; we died in Him, and now we have right-standing with God in Heaven.
The Personal Scale
Do not allow bitterness to come through your door and reside. Even secular science states that bitterness can have harmful effects on your health. In 1994, a woman was brought before an itinerant preacher by her sister and some friends. She had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and given six weeks to live. While praying for her, the minister heard in the Spirit that bitterness was the root problem. He approached the lady with great care because pride will cause one not to acknowledge the Word of the Lord. Pride will not acknowledge the issue, and pride will keep a door closed and locked. The preacher did not preach but gently asked the lady to allow God to show her if she had any bitterness towards anyone. Instantly, she said, “Yes, I do.” The minister explained what bitterness could do and asked her if she would be willing to let go and forgive. It was a momentary struggle, but she said yes, and the man of God led her through a prayer of forgiveness. Her countenance immediately changed as God’s intrinsic glory fell. The preacher never saw the woman again; however, two years later, he did see her sister, who reported life, wellbeing, and the disappearance of the cancer.
People can leave a door open and not keep an eye on it. It can be comical. Raccoons often come through an open door right into one’s house. A lady working the night register at a rural motel in Richwood, WV, had a black bear walk through an open door into the motel lobby. That door was shut and watched from then on. Sometimes, a spiritual door can be breached simply because of misplaced trust in the ones–our federal heads–who should be watching.
One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease, well-nourished in body, bones rich with marrow. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good. Job 21: 23-24 (NIV)
In North America, a national religious organization recently ratified the sin of Gomorrah by policy change. The Bible clearly states that anyone who practices this sin has no inheritance in the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). In other words, they cannot be admitted to heaven. The Bible further stipulates that those who approve of said sin and those who support the accompanying sinners also forfeit their inheritance in the Kingdom of God (Romans 1:32). Can’t shut the door on this one, so how does God intervene? The Angel of the Lord ushered Lot and his family out of Sodom and ordered them not to look back.
It is hard to do such a thing when it was a good part of life at one time. It is difficult when generations, even great-great-grandparents are involved. It will be even harder if God calls you to leave and you fail to acknowledge God. Little things don’t go as smoothly in life because the supernatural protection of the Heavenly Father is lifted a bit. Car breaks down, one slips off a ladder, emergency room visits expand to days in the hospital, and recovery is not quite as prompt. Anger and bitterness may be built towards others who plainly see the corruption and boldly point it out. It is hard to enjoy more and more good experiences in life. It seems like things just keep getting in the way. God lifting the shield of daily protection is often divine pre-intervention, so one can choose to go out the door.
As we approach these last days of the Church Age, more and more lies abound. If we are aware and obedient, more and more grace is available. It is a happy father whose children ask for help, then follow his guidance. So it is with God. Even now, He says from Heaven, “Have faith in Jesus and follow My dear Son.”
Feature Image: Golden door; Archangel GENAI Text to Image; Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
