A spy was captured by the Persian army and sentenced to death. As he soon learned, the Persian general who issued the death sentence carried out executions in an unusual way. The general would give the condemned the choice of being slain by the sword or walking through a certain big, black door.

After being offered this choice, the spy chose death by the sword and was quickly executed in that way. Not long afterward, a curious onlooker asked the general what lay behind the big, black door. The general answered, “Freedom, but they always prefer the known to the unknown. People are afraid of that which is undefined and less certain. We gave him a choice. Behind the door is freedom, but few men are brave enough to take it.”

Christian, could it be that God has recently placed some “big, black door” in front of you? And could it be that your fear of the unknown is keeping you from having the faith to walk through that door? If that describes you, rest assured that God doesn’t operate like that Persian general. He isn’t playing games with you, and He’s not seeking your demise. Instead, what He’s trying to do is build your faith in Him. In order to do that, He wants to take you out of your comfort zone to a place where you are less confident in yourself and more prone to lean on Him.

What am I saying? I’m saying that God’s “big, black doors” are portals into a deeper walk with Him. But you’ve got to have the faith and courage to step through them. It’s Satan who wants you to spend your life fearful, unchallenged, underdeveloped, and wrongly satisfied with the status quo. God, on the other hand, wants you to experience all that He has planned for you so that you can become the person He wants you to become.

Consider the verses listed below as the close to this post. They are all written to Christians and they all have to do with fear. My prayer is that God will speak to you through them if He is truly calling you to walk through a big, black door that will lead you into the freedom of His will for your life.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27, N.K.J.V.)

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15, N.K.J.V.)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7, N.K.J.V.)

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18, N.K.J.V.)