OPEN DOORS — SAY IT WITH JOY

Statistically, 35 to 50 percent of Americans, who call themselves Christians, rarely or never read the Bible. That failure to lay a foundation of biblical truths creates open doors to the enemy’s attacks and lies. Only God’s inerrant Word opens doors to blessings and hope that support faith and lead and guide us in both good and troubling times. So, what is the basis for a Christian’s beliefs if the Bible is not considered relevant or important enough to be part of their daily life?

The enemy’s goal is to create doubt and confusion towards God’s Word, because he knows the delivering power, freedom, and healing that Scripture brings to those who read and speak it. The Word tells us that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV).

God, through His Holy Spirit, chose men to receive and transcribe His living, active, powerful Word that transforms, penetrates, discerns, and judges the thoughts, intentions, and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). His Word can be trusted as shown through the Dead Sea Scrolls, the largest archeological discovery in the 20th Century, that reveals strong evidence for the accurate transmission of the Old Testament proving that modern Bible translations are based on a 95 percent word-for-word accuracy with modern Hebrew bibles. And all Jews are both Israelites and Hebrews, representing a continued, shared ancestry. Jesus was and is both Jew and Hebrew.

Jesus was in the desert fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, when Satan came to tempt Him with man’s three greatest carnal sins birthed in the Garden of Eden: “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Each time, Jesus countermanded Satan’s temptation with God’s Word, "It is written..." and then He quoted scripture, which caused the devil to leave (Matthew 4:1-11). Christians have that same authority through the power of the Holy Spirit, but many never use it.

God wants Christians to build their lives on the solid rock (Jesus) and the firm foundation—His Word. Thus, Jesus taught the following parable about the Wise and Foolish Builders:

“Everyone who comes to Me and hears My Words and does them, I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock (Christ, the living Word). And when the flood (problems, disasters, disappointments) arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation (God’s Word). When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 5:47-49). God sent a flood in Noah’s time as His judgment against the people who rejected God’s Word that Noah had preached.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This declares the pre-existence, deity, and distinction of Jesus Christ (the Word/Logos) within the Trinity. It affirms that the Word is both divine in nature and in communion with God (John 1:1). Thus, our foundation should be in Christ and His Word, because He is the Word.

The world ignores God’s Word and questions its authenticity. They are preoccupied with anything that debunks biblical truths rather than learning directly from God’s Word. Therefore, just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. People will be eating, drinking, marrying, and refusing to listen to warnings of things that are coming soon.

In Noah’s time, God’s wrath fell upon the people and not one survived. In our time, that is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be working together; one will be taken and the other left (Luke 17:26-30).

Noah’s Ark represents salvation, divine protection, and a new beginning. It represents a safe refuge from God's judgment, a sanctuary for preserving life, and a symbol of faith and obedience that carries believers through destruction and corruption. It is a foreshadowing of the Rapture and salvation to those who believe God’s Word as Noah did. Just as Noah, his family, and the animals were safely enclosed within the ark to escape God’s judgment, believers in Christ are sealed, secured, and separated from the coming wrath and will be “caught up” to be with Christ.

The word “rapture” is not in the Bible. However, the Greek translation calls it harpazo which means "to snatch or be caught up,” which the apostle Paul said, “We who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NIV). Therefore, we are told to “keep watch,” because we do not know on what day our Lord will come (Matthew 24:37-43 NIV).

What are the open doors that negatively affect faith in God’s Word? According to the Bible, "open doors" are footholds that Satan uses to interfere with our lives, so we will disobey and doubt God and His Word. That door could be misinformation, unbelief, unforgiveness, unrepentant and unconfessed sin, perverse speech, bitterness, addiction, sexual immorality, ungodly and/or corrupting relationships, bad habits, rebellion, pride, worry, doubt, materialism, or anything that consumes our everyday thoughts and life (Ephesians 4:26-2; 1 Corinthians 15:33). These actions serve as spiritual portals to temptation, demonic influence, and unbelief.

Open doors to freedom happens when there is recognition of one’s weaknesses, addictions, and behaviors that do not honor God. Surrendering all to God allows Him to help us transform our thoughts with His Word, walk in truth, and set boundaries that will bring a renewing of our mind and building our faith.

Jesus was fasting and walking in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, when Satan came to tempt Him with man’s three greatest carnal sins birthed in the Garden of Eden: “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Each time, Jesus countermanded Satan’s temptation with God’s Word, "It is written..." and then He quoted scripture, which caused the devil to leave (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus set the example for us.

The Holy Spirit will help us understand Scripture so that we can apply and speak those liberating biblical truths as Jesus did. We must never forget that God's Spirit always works in harmony and in tandem with His Word as He guides and reveals the deeper meanings that align with His holiness and bring us freedom.

PRAYER: FATHER, I ask that you place within my heart a desire to faithfully read Your Word each day, and if I have any open doors to the enemy, please show me. I trust that Your Holy Spirit will reveal wonderful, freeing truths that I have never known. And if I become discouraged, help me to press on, knowing that You are God who reveals deep truths and knowledge throughout Your holy scriptures. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Image by Tim Mossholder from Pixabay