Message summary: Today, we can rejoice that Jesus Christ holds the keys!

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The risen Christ proclaims, "Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:17,18).

Many of us recall when we carried a number of keys around; car key(s), house key, etc. Presently both of our vehicles have the keyless entry and start feature with electronic fobs so we don't carry keys, but over the years we have learned this feature can have a downside!

Yesterday we drove to church and, after finding a parking space, I parked the car and shut off the motor.

Then I said, "O no!".

Why? At home, before leaving the house, I had gone out to start the car since it was a bit chilly. I forgot to put my suspenders on so I headed back to the house and put the fob in the pocket of my vest for safe keeping. I removed the vest in my office so I could put on my suspenders and then we left home. BUT I forgot to put my vest back on before leaving the house.

As long as the car was started I could still drive it and we all happily drove to church oblivious to that which awaited us once I parked the car. It was after I turned off the car I suddenly realized it would not start again without the fob. Anyone else have a car like that? We couldn't even lock the car but probably one of the better places to leave your car unlocked is in a church parking lot!

Thankfully, Keith, a friend, took us all home and after we arrived Brooksyne and Ester prepared us a nice hot spaghetti dinner.  Keith took me back to the church parking lot, after I was double sure I had the fob, and our tiny saga ended well.

Of course the fob is essentially the key to the car although, with modern keyless entry and keyless start, you don't use them the same way. The driver just has have the fob in a pocket or purse, etc!

The first reference to a key in the Bible goes all the way back to the period of the Judges in a rather frank description of Eglon's death. He was king of Moab. Judges 3:25 describes the setting: "when he (Eglon) did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them". See Judges 3:12-30 for the context and rather gruesome details.

"Key" is also used figuratively such as this powerful verse from Isaiah 33:6: "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."

Probably the most famous Biblical reference to keys is Christ's words to Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:19).

But our word of encouragement today is from Revelation 1:17,18, "Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

Bible teacher David Guzik, in the Enduring Word Bible Commentary, makes three observations from this text:

Today, we can rejoice that Christ always holds the most vital keys. (Although increasingly people will be identifying a fob and He always holds that as well!)

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, thank You for Jesus who died on the cross for our sins; past, present and future. It was but a short time that He was held captive to the power of death, but He will die no more. Jesus is alive forevermore, and we will live forever with Him, because Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. As we believe on Him, though we may die a mortal death, we shall yet live an immortal life. Jesus holds the keys to the invisible world which will one day be made visible to all creation. He also holds the key to our heart's door, but will only turn that key when we invite His entrance. Today we not only invite Jesus to enter but also to reside in our hearts as His Holy Spirit constantly abides with us, guiding us into all truth. We love You, Father, and we come to You through Your Son, Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

From a Bible Dictionary:

Key as mentioned in Scripture. It is called in Hebrew maphteah , i.e., the opener (Judges 3:25); and in the Greek New Testament kleis , from its use in shutting ( Matthew 16:19 ; Luke 11:52 ; Revelation 1:18 , etc.). Figures of ancient Egyptian keys are frequently found on the monuments, also of Assyrian locks and keys of wood, and of a large size (Compare Isaiah 22:22).

The word is used figuratively of power or authority or office (Isaiah 22:22 ; Revelation 3:7; Revelation 1:8; comp 9:1; 20:1; Compare also Matthew 16:19; 18:18). The "key of knowledge" (Luke 11:52; Compare Matthew 23:13) is the means of attaining the knowledge regarding the kingdom of God.

Many years ago we misplaced the second key (a real key) to a previous van and needed a backup in case we should ever lose the other key so I used the services of a locksmith. The locksmith had a very unique name for his business: "Answered Prayer Locksmithing".

Here's the background story of "Answered Prayer Locksmithing": John Williams, the founder and owner of the business, had a job but wanted to start his own company. He also wanted to do God's will so after discussing the matter with his wife on a Friday they both began praying about the matter. They asked God to show them very clearly what steps they should take. The very next Monday he walked into work and was told that he had been fired! Well, that was answered prayer (though not the kind we usually pray for), and thus the name of his company, Answered Prayer Locksmithing.