PANDORA'S BOX? THE DOOR--- HOW CAN I FIND GOD?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
PANDORA'S BOX? In Greek Mythology the gods sent Pandora a box and she was forbidden to open it.
Pandora's curiosity was so great that she opened the box and when she did she loosened a swam of evil ,upon all mankind...
PANDORA'S BOX is a source of trouble, something that leads to more problems.
Why did Pandora feel the need to open that door?
EVE OPENED A DOOR---??? CONSEQUENCES?
HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED "LET'S MAKE A DEAL?" WHAT WILL THIS CHOICE BRING?
The show is about choices? Do you want: DOOR #1, DOOR #2, or how about DOOR #3?
You have a choice of doors...
You made a choice of what shoes to wear?
You made a choice of THE MOOD you are in?
You make a choice how you talk? Volume, tone, body language?
ADAM & Eve made a choice?
LOT'S WIFE (no name) had a choice?
NO CHOICE IS A CHOICE? Ask Agrippa?
DO WE EVER PICK THE WRONG DOOR? THE REALLY OF DOORS AND CHOICE ARE BEFORE US?
Do you think we really count the consequences?
Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
WHICH DOOR DO YOU WANT? WHAT DOES THIS DOOR COST ME? MY FAMILY?
DO WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE SYMPTOMS WE NEED TO KNOW??
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ABUSE AND NEGLECT?
Can neglect be as deadly as abuse?
Near the end of the school year, my aide at Elk Knob Elementary (Virginia)was running copies of the SEVEN SIGNAL SIGNS OF CANCER for my class. She accidentally ran off too many copies. Instead of throwing the extras away, I asked the 5th grade teacher if she would like these to give out. As we were standing in the hall of the school, she looked at these 7 signs and said: I HAVE ALL SEVEN OF THESE SIGNS. She went to her doctor the next day and before the new school season started again, Pauline was dead? The lack of recognizing symptoms could be deadly?
ARE THERE SPIRITUAL SIGNS THAT CAUSE SYMPTOMS? DO WE LISTEN? CAN WE LEARN ABOUT COST FROM OTHERS THAT PICKED THE WRONG DOOR?
If we do not hearken unto the voice of God many things will happen. Each thing that happens is not a coincidence ... IT IS A SYMPTOM... Read Deuteronomy 28 and see the SYMPTOMS of disobedience.
Deuteronomy 28:23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
THERE IS A SPIRIT OF GRADUALNESS, THE TIDE CAN SILENTLY DRIFT US OF OUR COURSE... AND WE FAIL TO SEE IT?
Do we understand blood in urine is a symptom?
Linda had a bad cough? The cough lingered and lingered? It got worse and worse. She told the doctor, so what?
A friend was talking one day and she was tell us she had a bad cough for a prolonged time. Her doctor told her it was LISINOPRIL. In some people this effective blood pressure pill causes a cough. So Linda made an appointment with the Doctor and told her again about the cough, and what we heard about LISINOPRIL? The doctor said: Of course, and immediately substituted a new B/P medicine and the cough was gone?
IT MIGHT PAY TO LISTEN TO OUR SYMPTOM?
THERE IS ONLY ONE DOOR? WHAT DOES THIS DOOR OPEN? PANDORA'S BOX?
DO WE UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL SYMPTOMS?
SYMPTOM: a sign in the mind or body that indicates a disease is present of something not healthy, a sign of something bad... evidence...
WHILE WE MAY HAVE THE CHOICE OF DOORS, THERE IS ONLY ONE DOOR...
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
THERE WERE SAFETY FEATURES IN BIBLICAL DOORS...
While visiting in Israel we saw examples of Biblical doors. In the typical house the lower floor was where animals were kept at night. And there was a room above this area that were the living quarters. There was a large door on two wooden hinges that would open to allow the animals to go in and come out. But in the center of the large door was a smaller door. This smaller door requires to step up and lower your head to walk through that door. To have to step up and bend over to come into the house was a safety feature. If someone was intruding or come to cause danger, as he was stepping up and leaning over it was easy to defend and protect your home. At night or in times of danger the large door was never opened, only the smaller door was used.
SHEEP ARE UNIQUE AND VERY DIFFERENT FROM MANY ANIMALS... THEY HAVE NO SENSE OF DIRECTION... THEY GRAZE AND GRAZE AND NEVER LOOK UP ---THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW THEY ARE SEPERATED FROM THE FLOCK, LOOST AND IN GREAT DANGER OF THE BIG, BAD WOLF.
The sheep has no HOME INSTINCT like a bird, bee, dog.
Sheep follow, if a sheep is following another and falls into the ditch, the whole flock will fall into the same ditch.
THERE WERE NO DOOR KNOBS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR...
EVER NOTICE THE GREAT MASTER PIECES OF JESUS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR...
The art critic was analyzing one of the art works of Jesus knocking on the door and was critical and said: Sir you forgot the door knob. The artist said: Sir, I see you don't know Jesus very well. Jesus knocks at the door, but only you can open the door. Jesus would never force himself, he only comes in as an honored guest.
Revelation 3:20 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.
OFTEN OUTSIDE A CITY OR VILLAGE THERE WAS A SHEEPFOLD OR SHEEP PEN. THIS SHEEP PEN WAS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE SHEEP AND THE DOOR OR AREA WHERE SHEEP WOULD GO IN AT NIGHT OR DURING A STORM THERE WAS A PORTER OR SHEPHERD THAT WAS ASSIGNED... THIS FUNCTION WAS CALLED A "DOOR KEEPER."
While near their homes, at night all of the shepherds would combine their sheep in THE SHEEP FOLD for safety. One of the shepherds would guard the sheep all night. The "ON DUTY" shepherd would know all the sheep are safely in --- He would build a fire to stay warm and use as light and all night he would lay across the only "DOOR" opening. Any mean, bad wolf would have to first encounter the shepherd as all sheep are safe in the sheep cote (cot) --- just stay in the fold...
ALL SHEEP KNOW THERE IS SAFETY WHEN THEY HEARD THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE!
THE NEXT MORNING AS THE SHEPHERD WOULD GATHER ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS TO SPEAK CALMING AND THEIR SHEEP WOULD SEPARATE THEMSELVES --- THEY KNEW THEIR MASTER'S VOICE...
John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
THE DOOR OR GATE FOR GOD'S SHEEP IS NARROW, THIS TOO HELPS PROTECT THE SHEEP.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
THERE IS GREAT SAFETY IN THE FOLD WITH THE MASTER STANDING GUARD OVER HIS SHEEP
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
I read a story once about a rich doctor in California meeting Mother Teresa on one of her visits to the USA. This MAN FELT SO CLOSE TO GOD WHILE HE WAS NEAR TERESA. He was talking to her and told her how close God was to him when he was in her presence. So he ask Mother Teresa I understand you are going to Mexico next, if it is no intrusion, I would like to buy a ticket to Mexico and travel with you! I just love feeling close to God.
I understand Mother Teresa answered the doctor very honestly. Sir, sure you could go with me... But if desire to open the door and feel close to Jesus take your money for the ticket and expenses to Mexico and her the church or feed a hungry person and YOU WILL RECEIVE THE SAME FEELING OF BEING CLOSE TO THE CROSS.
The doctor did as Mother Teresa had explained and sure enough THE DOOR WAS OPENED TO BE NEARER TO THE HEART OF GOD...
SEE WE DETERMINE WHICH DOOR... GATE... CURTAIN WHICH WE WILL OPEN AND WHICH WE WILL KEEP CLOSED.
CONCLUSION:
Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
A good sheep knows the GOOD SHEPHERD. THE SHEEP KNOW THE ROD AND THE STAFF. The staff is gentle the rod is for correction. A LITTLE LAMB THAT OFTEN RUNS AWAY OR IS CONSTANTLY GET LOST IS IN GREAT DANGER. The good shepherd pulls in the little lamb with his staff. But if this dangerous behavior continues the good shepherd will take THE ROD and hit the little lamb across one leg and it hurts for some time. But as the shepherd leads to green pastures and to still waters the good shepherd will carry the little lamb on his shoulders. The little lamb is now safe. The little lamb learns to completely trust the shepherd and will never again leave the fold. The compassionate, caring shepherd will scout out the green pastures and still waters. And the precious little lamb will trust...
THE GOOD SHEPHERD SAYS: Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
