IS THE DOOR CLOSED FOR YOU?

There is this man who had tremendously suffered a terrible life. His life is a hopeless story. I promise, no one will ever want his life. This story is recorded in Mark chapter 5, this is the first story in the chapter. Mark narrates that right after Jesus went out of the boat, a man with evil or unclean spirits comes to him. This man lives in the tombs. See, this man is alive but living a dead life. He is living like a savage animal. Why, because this man has legions of evil spirit inside him.

Then one day, this unexpected encounter with Jesus came. It was a tough encounter. Sorry, I would like to stop there, you may read the whole story in Mark 5:20. Let’s jump to the very moment when finally, the man is human again. Yes, his sanity is back and he is even better than before. (When one has an encounter with Jesus, that person will never be the same again. I guarantee you this.)

Now, I would like to bring you to my favorite part of the narrative. When Jesus was about to go, the man begged, if he could go with Jesus. (We would love to be always with Jesus. Once you have the experience you will never want to let go.) What do you think Jesus does? Jesus says, “No.” This sounds frustrating but here is the best thing, Jesus tells the man, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

It is no because the man has a mission. He is ready to be on his own personal mission. He is ready to proclaim Jesus. The Jesus that was told by Isaiah (42:6-7)

long before as the covenant of God’s people “to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Wow! Jesus, the Messiah, the Redeemer of His people has set him free. He needed to tell his story.)

Yes, he was accepted and renewed by Christ yet also was denied. The man was accepted but yet rejected. Many times, we have what we called closed doors. The painful moments of no’s. The crying episodes of the sign “denied.” However, in Christ, we are secure that the denials and closed doors are not God’s disfavors. God’s denials and closed doors are not God’s rejection. Like that man, we think it was best to be with Jesus but for Jesus, the man was ready to proclaim. It is no because God thinks of a better option for you.

Hold on tight on faith! God has a better option for you!