Keys to the Kingdom
| Someone in my family thought I am prone to losing my keys. One of the gifts that I received for Christmas was an electronic key finder. It works somewhat but sometimes it works too good. The instructions say to whistle in it then when you lose your keys all you have to do is whistle and the key finder will emit a loud alarm. The trouble is that I whistle a lot. When I’m driving, working, or want our golden retriever to come I whistle. It gets annoying when you whistle a tune and have to contend with the ear-splitting key-finder. Setting the alarm to go off when I clap my hands doesn’t work either. It just so happens that people clap a lot at our church which for some reason can set off my key-finder. I thought about setting the alarm to go off when my wife snores – but our dog snores too. |
I really don’t need a key-finder much anymore. My wife had a good solution to losing keys. She put key hooks at the end of our kitchen cabinets. Now I’ve developed the habit of always putting my keys on the key hooks when I come into the house. I very seldom lose my keys now. My reading glasses are a different matter.
There is a greater problem than losing our keys. Multitudes of people are lost spiritually and even many believers lose what belongs to them as children of God. God gave us the answer – the ultimate key finder. Isaiah prophesied, “I will give him the key to the house of David – the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them. He will bring honor to his family name, for I will drive him firmly in place like a nail in the wall” (Isaiah 22:22-23 NLT). Even though Isaiah mentions Eliakim son of Hilkiah (Isaiah 22:20) this is a messianic prophesy of the coming Savior and Lord. Jesus is the nail or peg on whom you can place the keys of the kingdom on. He was nailed to the cross as our sacrifice and redeemer – Christ arose from the dead victorious over death, hell, and the grave. “He has the key of David. He is the one that opens and no one can close” (Revelation 3:7).
Jesus has given all believers the keys of the kingdom. His keys represent authority. “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means rock) and upon this Rock I will build my church and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19). Who is the rock that the church is built upon? The Rock – Christ Jesus. To whom does He give the keys of the kingdom? The church which is made up of all born again believers.
How do we use the keys of the kingdom given to us by the Lord? Someone wrote a song years ago that describes this great blessing and responsibility – “Prayer is the key to heaven but faith unlocks the door.”
Jesus gave us a great privilege and promise, “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name and you will receive and you will have abundant joy . . . Then you will ask in my name” (John 16:23-24, 26 NLT). There is power and authority in the name of Jesus. Are you using the keys to the kingdom? Pray in His name.
If you have lost your keys, go to the nail or peg driven in the wall – Jesus. “For as many as received him, gave he power to become sons of God, even as many as believed in his name” (John 1:12).
by: Cliff Sanders