0298. THE OPENER AND THE CLOSER.

THE OPENER AND THE CLOSER.

"He openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth" (Rev_3:7).

I. His Character: In this verse we see the Lord Jesus as-

1. The Holy One. "These things saith He that is holy" (Rev_3:7). Give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness (Psa_30:4). No fault found in Him by God, man, or devil.

2. The True One. "He that is true" (Rev_3:7). The faithful and true witness. I am the truth, the true expression and fulfilment of the character and mind of God.

3. The Authorised One. "He hath the key of David" With regard to the coming kingdom, and our present and future salvation, the Lord has the key of the whole situation. All power is given unto Him, so that He hath the keys of Heaven, earth, and hell (Isa_22:22; Rev_1:18).

II. His Twofold Work. "Opening and shutting." What He opens no man can shut.

1. He Opens the Door of Salvation. He hath opened "a new and living way for us through the veil of His own suffering flesh" (Heb_10:20).

2. He Opens the Door of the Heart. "He opened Lydia’s heart" (Act_16:14). With the key of light He also opened the heart of the persecuting Saul.

3. He Opens the Door of the Word. "He opened unto them the Scriptures" (Luk_24:32). The Bible is a sealed book to many because they know not the Opener. "Open Thou mine eyes to behold wondrous things out of Thy law" (Psa_119:18).

4. He Opens the Door of Service. "A great door and effectual is opened unto me" (1Co_16:9). He can also open a door of utterance, that we may speak boldly. He opened the door for David, Moses, Nehemiah, Paul. If you wish an open door for service, go to Him, He keeps the key.

5. He Opens the Door of Heaven. "I see the heavens opened" (Act_7:56), said Stephen. He can open the "windows of Heaven" as well as the door (Mal_3:10). The door of Heaven opens from within.

6. He Shutteth and no Man Openeth.

(1)He shutteth the flood gates of wrath. No man could open the Ark when Noah was shut in by the Lord.

(2)He shutteth the door of opportunity. The foolish virgins were unprepared when the Bridegroom came, and the door was shut. No man could open it.

(3)He shutteth the gate of hell, and no man openeth (Luke 16). The great gulf is fixed. He that would come from thence cannot. "Lord, open unto me Thy heart, and shut my life in Thine."

Autor: James Smith