Thoughts gleaned from Steve Johnston in Bumper Sticker Theology
“When one door closes another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us”. Alexander Graham Bell.
At face value this statement seems simple and true, but much is left to interpretation.
How do we evaluate what’s a door or window and what’s not a door or window?
What if there are multiple doors and windows?
How do we know who it is that is opening and closing?
So often we assume that God’s goals for us are the same as our own. Like when we pray for something and then expect to get the answer we want. This is bumper sticker theology and, if we are honest, we know that this is not how things work. It’s not how God works.
As we mature, we begin to understand and, hopefully, accept the real possibility that the prayer we want answered is not God’s goal at all and there is no window to be found.
Sometimes we assume that, because God is sovereign or supreme, God has infinite ways to get us what we want and to where we want to be. So, when a door is closed it is not actually “no” but rather awaiting an alternative path to be revealed.
This idea is read into many verses and Bible stories such as Romans 8:28. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” The idea read in is that since God wants good for us, if something happens to hinder or stop that, God will find a way to make the good thing happen.
Again, the problem is our idea of good—achieving our goal—may not be the same as God’s idea of good.
Finally, there is the assumption that all the responsibility to close doors and open windows is God’s and we are to just wait.
But there are those times when it is our responsibility to close a door to something in our life and to seek out that window whatever that may be.
Also, it could be that a door seems closed but we need to knock for a while or apply some effort before it will open.
The major limitation with this statement is in thinking it is all-encompassing, something to be believed under any and all circumstances.
In reality doors do close for good and there is never a window opened.
Sometimes a relationship ends and there isn’t another one.
There are doors in Scripture that at one point are open but then are closed and there is no window.
When God closed the door of the ark there was no other opened or a window for an unbelieving world.
Jesus, who called Himself “The Door,” foresaw a day when lost people would try to enter yet be unable to do so because it will be too late. The one door of salvation will be forever closed to them (Matthew 25:11).
Our assurance as believers is that God has a plan and a purpose for us and is constantly working behind the scenes in every circumstance in our life to further that plan. But, here is the catch……we need to remember it is God’s plan, not ours.
So, living as disciples isn’t about making our plans and going through the doors and windows of our own design to accomplish what we desire. It is about coming to terms and a place of peace for God’s purposes for us.
Many of us are saddened by the closing of SWU, myself included. Many of us are unsure of where we are headed –either as a community or on our own.
But I encourage you to take a breath, look back over the doors which have been slammed in your face over the years.
Have you not realized that, recognized and welcome or not at the time, something changed and you found yourself exactly where you were meant to be?
Yes, the vote last Sunday was disappointing. But let’s ask God for the wisdom and courage to look towards a future yet unseen, giving thanks for works which has already been accomplished and daring to have enough faith to believe in God’s plan for what is yet to come. Amen
In peace
Pastor Beryl DLM