This verse found in Revelations 3:7 was written to the church of Philadelphia.  Of the seven churches mentioned in Revelations chapter two and three the church of Philadelphia and Smyrna were the only two that the Lord did not give a warning in the address to them.  In Revelation chapter 3:20 he writes to the church of Laodicea these words: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  Three doors: an open door, a closed door, and a door ready to be open to enjoy the fellowship of the Lord.

In my live many doors have been closed.  I remember the time in January 1978 that the door to the ministry was closed to me, and yet another door opened for a new career with Kroger.  At that time it was a disappoint, having spent the last six years of my live preparing for the ministry, yet now looking back I can see God’s hand in the my life.  We sometimes forget the words from of the great hymn Follow Me.  In this hymn it states:

Oh Jesus if I die upon a foreign field someday,
‘Twould be no more than love demands, no less could I repay,
“No greater love hath mortal man than for a friend to die”
These are the words He gently spoke to me,
“If just a cup of water I place within your hand
Then just a cup of water is all that I demand.
But if by death to living they can Thy glory see,
I’ll take my cross and follow close to Thee.

Sometimes we must realize that the Lord has a different purpose in our lives than what we dream.  We can not all be the star of the football team.  It takes a great blocking front line to give the quarterback the time he needs to make that great pass, so some of us have to be the center, guards, tackles, and tight ends in the game.

We must realize that when the Lord closes a door, he also opens a door.  However there is always a door we must open.  That is the door of Fellowship.  The church of Laodicea was the last of the seven churches in Revelation chapter two and three.  I believe it pictures the last days of the church before the Coming of our Lord.  It is the church that is rich in worldly goods, but poor in the spiritual matters of the Lord.  It is the church that pictures the Lord outside the church and knocking on the hearts of believers to come in.  This is the door we can open or close.  The chose is ours, so when the Lord knocks open the door, because His fellowship can give you the peace that passes all understanding in a world of confusion which is around us daily.