“I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” (Revelation 3:8 NAS)
I grew up in a poor, lower class neighborhood of Gadsden, Alabama. Many “upper-crusts” thought of it as the slums. Despite their contempt, however, it was one of the better neighborhoods in our city. Crime was non-existent. The fathers, and some mothers, were hard-working laborers in the two major employers.
Every family came from good stock and looked out for one another. We attended the same churches and schools. And our parents knew each other on a first-name basis. We couldn’t get away with any mischief because the adult who caught us would correct us immediately and tell our parents later, then we would get a second dose of discipline.
Although we couldn’t afford many of life’s luxuries, and some of its necessities, we weren’t bored or suicidal, because our moms threatened to “find us something to do” if we didn’t “go out an play.” And if any of us had attention deficit syndrome, we didn’t know it because the seat of our pants would get attention if we didn’t pay attention. And our hyperactivity was controlled by sending us out to play or a look that said, “calm down or else.” Certainly no kid I knew was on any behavior improvement drugs.
Of course, Dr. Spock and other well-meaning intellectuals thought our parents needed better parenting skills, and sociologists thought we would never amount to anything. In their minds, we weren’t capable of picking ourselves up by our bootstraps or achieving a higher standard of living. As far as most were concerned, the door of opportunity was closed with ABSOLUTELY NO ADDMITANCE posted on its exterior.
Somehow those attitudes toward us gave us the incentive to “show them.” Our life experiences on the bottom rung gave us the courage to walk through doors of ABSOLUTELY NO ADMITTANCE. And today, most of the youth who grew up in that neighborhood have gotten higher education, pursued important careers, and achieved economically.
We may have been weak in economic and social power. We may have feared the obstacles we faced. We may have shrunk back at the attitudes and prejudices of the “upper-crusts.” But we kept God’s word, refusing to deny him, and God met us at the doors marked ABSOLUTELY NO ADMITTANCE. God opened them for us and held them open until we gained confidence enough to walk through them.
Dear Father, thank you for opening the door of eternal opportunity through Christ. Enable us to keep our confidence strong to the end. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous today and walk through the open door,