He Has the Key

How many keys do you have? It was not that long ago that I had more than 10 on my keyring. I remember looking down at them and realizing I had no idea what most of the keys belonged to. I now have just 4 keys on my keyring, and I use each almost daily.

If you think about it, our lives depend on keys. Home, office, vehicle, P.O. box, padlocks. I asked chatgpt to give me a list of things we need keys for. In addition to my list, it gave me the following:

mailbox,

safe,

bicycle lock,

file cabinet,

locker,

security box,

hotel room,

storage unit,

gym locker,

toolbox,

jewelry box,

firearm safe,

cash register,

roller shutter,

boat,

locker room.

Yep, I think our lives depend on keys.

I mentioned this a couple of years ago, but I was going through one of my late husband’s drawers and I found a bunch of keys! In fact, I found 10 key rings with a total of 26 keys! Eleven of them just for padlocks. Each key opened something important in his life. But I had no idea what they were for. This leads me to ponder the significance of keys—tools that safeguard until it is time to unlock.

In the Bible, keys are often symbolic of authority, access, and responsibility. One story comes to mind, and it is found in Matthew 16:13-20.

Jesus is in the region of Caesarea Philippi, questioning his disciples about public opinion regarding his identity. Simon Peter identifies Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and in response, Jesus commends Peter, declaring him as the foundation on which he will build his church and entrusting him something very special.

“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 NKJV

What was Jesus saying to him with the words "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven"?

I believe Peter was given the authority to make decisions on behalf of the kingdom.

“Jesus’ words meant that Peter would have the right to enter the kingdom himself, that he would have general authority symbolized by the possession of the keys, and that preaching the gospel would be the means of opening the kingdom of heaven to all believers and shutting it against unbelievers.” (source: gotquestions dot org)

"whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,"

“It’s not that the apostles were given the privilege of changing God’s mind, as if whatever they decided on earth would be duplicated in heaven; rather, they were encouraged that, as they moved forward in their apostolic duties, they would be fulfilling God’s plan in heaven. When the apostles “bound” something, or forbade it on earth, they were carrying out the will of God in the matter. When they “loosed” something, or allowed it on earth, they were likewise fulfilling God’s eternal plan.” (Source: gotquestions dot com)

Friend, by extension, we too have the key to the kingdom of heaven. Have you shared the truth of Jesus with someone close to you? Do they know that all it takes is a confession of our sins in prayer and accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior? A

Acts 4:11, 12 tells us who the ‘key’ is:

“Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” NIV

John 3:16, 17 tells us ‘why’:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” NIV

And John 3:35, 36 tell us ‘how’:

“The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” NIV

Jesus is the key to your eternal life. Be sure you have the Key, make sure you know the Key, make sure you use the Key daily.

by Jeanette Stark – Wednesday, January 24, 2024