'God opened the door' - 'Oh.... God closed the door'

Are we, has human beings, in control of our own choices and of the direction we steer our lives or are we simply walking down a long corridor waiting, trying every door we come across until we find that one of them is open?

I hear so often people claiming that the reason why they were able to do something or go somewhere is because God 'opened the door'. And just as regularly I hear that people weren't able to do something or go somewhere because God 'closed the door'. It's a little bit confusing.

I heard a story once of a small group of missionaries who were planning a trip to South America, but instead of fundraising or getting jobs to pay for the trip they were 'trusting God' - well, no suprise to most but the money never magically arrived in the mail so they simply proclaimed that God 'closed the door' on the trip. Nonsense.

We have been created in the likeness of God - not the image, image is an unhelpful word - we dont look like God, we aren't aren't a picture of God - but we are made in His likeness. In our ability to make choices and be creative, to love and to engage in the things of the spiritual world. And just as God can open a door (Acts 14:27 - which is the only reference to God ever 'opening a door') human kind can also, open doors.... and close them.

Those missionaries closed their own door by not being diligent and earning some money, they could have opened it back up by getting a job and therefor the much needed cash. So often we accredit too much of our own choices to God. We CAN open doors and sometimes you need to open with the sole of your steel capped boot! Just as we CAN close doors with the handle of apathy. Yes God does open and close doors, but so can we... In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps - Proverbs 16:9. Our journey through life is in partnership with God - we plot out a course, a direction and a plan according to the way God commands us to live, which is in obedience to him, but then the Lord determines our steps.

Just think, what would happen if someone opened a bad door in their life - they might have to endure pain or go through difficulty, evil could enter their life or worse!

Thank God we can't open doors hey - or we might get it wrong...