But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost, for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:8-9
In 1845, the United States sent Commodore James Biddle with two warships, to Japan, to force that nation to open trade between the two countries. Biddle must have been a poor persuader, or else his warships were not very impressive to the Japanese; they simply told the Americans to go away. The door to Japan remained closed. Eight years later, Commodore Matthew Perry returned, this time with four ships powered by steam, and so intimidated the Japanese that they agreed eventually to open their country to trade with the US. Perry effectively opened the door to trade and a cultural exchange between two nations. The Apostle Paul speaks in today’s text of an even greater door opened for him to take the Gospel to Ephesus. That same door is opened to the world around us, if we will but see it and take advantage of the opportunities.
Who opened the door in Ephesus for Paul? God did, of course. Just as He opens the doors around us. Both individually, and as an Assembly, we can use the doors that God has opened. We are not limited, as those in communist and Mohammedan countries, to secretive and private meetings and witnessing. We are able to publicly hold meetings weekly – and sometimes special Gospel series – in our halls. We are able to conduct Sunday School classes and hold children’s meetings. We are allowed to hold open air meetings – within limits – and to set up Gospel tents to take the message to new areas. We can also canvass an entire large city with Seedsowers texts and invitations to Gospel meetings. Yes, God has opened a great effectual door for us to preach and spread the Gospel. What a great opportunity! Are we using it as fully as we can?
God has also opened a great and effectual door for us as individuals to spread His message. We all have relatives who need to hear the Gospel. Sometimes they won’t listen to what we say, but they will observe our lives. What about the people we go to school with, or work with, or meet at various places? Do they know we are using the open door to live and speak the Gospel before them?
Paul spoke of there being many adversaries. He’s right. Some of them are attempting to close the door that God has opened for us. The danger is that, if we don’t make use of the door, God may simply allow the adversaries to close it. They have already done so in many places.
The door is open. For now. Let us pour the Gospel message forth while we can. -Jim MacIntosh