What’s Through Your Door

Let’s Make a Deal! Come on down! Or so spoke the announcer when calling someone down to play the game. Monty Hall and Stefan Hatos created the game show in 1963. A very tumultuous year on the national front, and I was eight years old. I don’t remember the game, because we didn’t watch shows like this. But Monty hosted the gameshow for 30 years.

On one of the segments, you, as a contestant, deserved the right to choose your choice of prizes. Pick from Door #1, #2, or #3. You had time to trade or sell your rights to whatever may be behind the door. It could be something spectacular or disappointing. You had a chance to make a change. Or, you are stuck with whatever was there.

That’s the problem. You never knew what to do.

What’s through your door?

We are often surprised by what we find on the other side. It’s a shock, whether good or bad, expected or not. Most of us are taken unaware. The challenge? How do you face the other side?

There was a time when a boss spent three hours with me going through his performance review of my work. It was a total shock when my job was threatened by the time we reached the end of the meeting. Of course, I bumped it up a notch to his boss. I survived. He didn’t.

That taught me a valuable lesson.

Don’t Ever Be Surprised!

Do not ever be surprised. When we get close to taking our last breath, we want to be ready for the end. I’ve stood around many a bedside as souls took their last breath. I know not everyone was ready. They were not prepared. I know most of us are not as prepared as we can be.

We don’t have many biblical records of those prepared where the Word shared their story. I can think of a few who are documented in scripture. Enoch (Genesis 5:24). Moses (Deuteronomy 34:1-5). Abraham (Genesis 25:5-8). Of course, Jesus was prepared. Remember his words? “Nevertheless, thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:39)

The life of Paul shows us years and decades of hard work – ministry under challenging situations, constantly standing up to various challenges, and dealing with heartaches along the way.

But when he got close to the end, he was ready.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 NKJV [Emphasis mine]

Maybe this is the key… I know it works for me.

Live every day ready for the shock that is sure to come. Roll with the punches. Bob-n-weave. Don’t let your feet get stuck! Keep your dukes up, ready to fight back. But don’t ever “not” be prepared.