Through The Window

Have you ever heard the Bible verse, "When one door closes, another one opens?" Well, forget about it. It's not a Bible verse. Alexander Graham Bell said it in 1935. Here's the full quote:

"When one door shuts, another one opens, but we sometimes stare at the closed door for so long and with such sadness that we fail to see the one that has opened for us."

Still the concept of God opening and closing doors is VERY Biblical. Here are a few examples.

Rahab let the Israelite spies down through a window to keep them from harm.

"Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall." - Joshua 2:15

Michal, David's wife, let him down through a window to prevent Saul from killing him.

"So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped." - 1 Samuel 19:12

Saul (Paul) was lowered down through a window by his disciples to keep the Jews from killing him.

"But his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket." - Acts 9:25

The point of all this is that God always provides a way out for us in our struggles. It might not be how we thought he'd do it but it happens, and for God's ultimate glory. Even in our sin He provides for us.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:14

No go look at that Alexander Graham Bell quote again.

"We sometimes stare at the closed door for so long and with such sadness that we fail to see the one that has opened for us."

Finally . . .

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

Look Through Any Window - Hollies

The Great Escape

Are you familiar with Steve McQueen? I have written about him before. Movie star, race car driver, The King of Cool!

This screen shot was taken from the movie The Great Escape. Set in World War II Germany, Steve plays a prisoner of war. He spends most of the movie trying to escape.

The German army is the enemy. They don't want Steve to escape. At the end of the movie, some of the prisoners escaped, some were killed. Steve was captured and thrown right back into prison.

This movie is analogous to the world we live in today, only our enemy cannot be seen. Despite his invisible nature, Satan's hatred for God can be seen everywhere. You and I get to play the roles of the prisoners. It is our job to escape.

In the movie the prisoners dug tunnels to get beyond the barbed-wire fence that surrounded the POW camp. In this life there are no fences but we are prisoners none-the-less. So how do we escape when it seems like there is nowhere to escape to?

The old Eagle's tune Hotel California describes our condition. "We are all just prisoners here of our own device." We are prisoners in this world.

Our sins have made us guilty in God's eyes. God's punishment for sin is death. There's no getting out of it. We are guilty! However, our death sentence comes with an 'escape' clause. His name is Jesus.

By placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, God has promised to airlift us out of the prison camp. Death no longer has any meaning to the Christ-follower. We have received eternal life through the atoning sacrifice that Jesus offered to God on our behalf.

Whatever your crime, whatever law you have broken, God has PROMISED to forgive you! Just come to Him in prayer and confess your sins. It will be the most difficult and yet the easiest thing you will ever do to receive such a prize.

The ability to escape the prison we are in is in our hearts. It's up to us. God has given us a ways to get out of our prison. It truly is a "great escape" because we are giving up death in favor of life. It's a no-brainer! Escape now!! Before the enemy comes to get you.

And Steve McQueen?  He made the choice for Jesus before he died from cancer. And although he died, yet shall he live.

"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” - Luke 21:36