January 9, 2013 - The Fire Door

I have spoken with so many people in the last few days about open doors in our lives that draw us in a wrong direction. Sometimes we willingly walk toward them, but often we have no clue as to what opening "that door" will allow. I know - I lived there. I remember a very vivid picture from the movie Back Draft that will be forever imprinted in my mind. The scene shows a fire fighter in a house with a roaring fire. The rookies are trying to get out and reach for a door knob - however the veteran fighter grabs one of their hands off the knob and places it on the door. The young man immediately draws his hand back as the door is extremely hot. Well, guess what awaits them on the other side? Trouble. Now, any of us might quickly grab and open ANY door as it appears to be the WAY OUT. It's a door with which we are familiar as we have often accessed and utilized its availability out. But when there's a FIRE on the other side, that friendly door can become a TRAP. THAT door may be the worst possible route of escape or path to freedom. Why am I bringing this up? These "doors" exist in REAL form in our lives in multiple areas. It's not just about starch and sugar - it could be relationships, business ventures, television shows....so many things. I met with a young man yesterday who needed to be reminded that not ALL doors are great routes to freedom. And, when we KNOW where the closed doors are, better to leave them closed. The problem is that we often don't know. For years, I thought my problem with my weight was heredity. WINK. (maybe that's what I wanted to think) But finally I began to take a CLOSE examination (hand on the door) and access the Holy Spirit (who guides us into all truth) and have begun to discover some doors that MUST REMAIN CLOSED. As I told the young man yesterday, when we KNOW there's trouble behind a door and we open it.........what can we expect? He really wanted something badly, but REALLY knew it wasn't a good situation. Let's bring yesterday's discussion into our lives today. Can we really determine the door that looks like a way out and yet is the WRONG PATH? What concerning our health needs a truth infusion? Time for an honest evaluation and a real check-up. It's a new year. Let's thank God that he is the veteran fighter who KNOWS where the fire is and KNOWS when to remove our hand from the wrong knob. Then, let's be obedient and quit reaching for the knob. I finally have identified some fire doors in my life and am praying for the Holy Spirit to slap me HARD anytime I reach for one. Yikes! Have a truth-infused day! PK