The Key

How many times have you heard a saying which begins with “the key”?

Some examples of this which come to mind are saying such as –

The key to a happy life is…

Or

The key to great success is…

Some of us spend a lifetime searching for ‘the key’.

I sought after such a key to stop certain depression, or perhaps to ease my pain and provide a type of relief for stress.

Yet, to my dismay and possibly for others as well, without knowing the true key we will never know what we are predestined to have.  

“Wait” you exclaim, “You mean to tell me, we are predestined for something?!” you state in bewilderment.

Romans 8:28-30:

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.  For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.”

With your inquisitiveness stirring, you wait, wanting to hear more.  Please let me tell you, let me explain an exciting fact!

We are created in God’s image. We are as stated in the song by Matt Redman known as “Trading My Sorrows (Yes Lord)”.  Always within the Father hands, we have strength from Him.

The song states facts:

“I’m pressed but not crushed

Persecuted but not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed

I am blessed beyond the curse

For His promise will endure

That His joy’s gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning”

(Songwriter: Darrell Evans)

Yes Lord. A more enjoyable life, more relaxed and with a greater ability to endure issues.  Truly having the key, yes Lord, you’re our joy.

With everyday life’s circumstances, the world offers a variety of keys to fix those issues which we seem to face. Perhaps we have turned to something which numbs or dulls our pain.

We may in fact think to ourselves…

If only there was something which turns our focus from self pity or self loathing into a more relaxed calm state?

Yet when ‘the key’ we have chosen to help us deal with issues wears off, then what?

The issues we face still exist and we have just realized that what we used to help cope was sadly just a temporary fix.

“So now what?” You may exclaim, with agitation in your voice.

What people search for unknowingly is the true key. The key to grace, joy, peace, just to name a few. We all want to enjoy life, yet seem to complicate our way with our own immediate fixes.

Stop. Stop choosing that way and accept The Way.

Jesus told His disciples: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

You, me…We have the key.

Jesus likewise had been given the key and from the Father; He gave to us the key.

 

Matthew 16:19:

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven.”

So looking further into this: Whatever was forbidden on earth is forbidden in heaven. Likewise, whatever is permitted in heaven is permitted on earth.

We know: Jesus was given all authority both in Heaven and Earth.

Which in turn He gave to those who believe and follow Him.

The way we live as new creations in Christ shows others who we are.

Simply put: A Christian, or Christ follower, needs to exemplify the new creation – our transformation.

You recall light and darkness cannot coexist. When Jesus who knew no sin became sin, the Father could not be with Jesus Christ the Messiah during the final moment of the crucifixion.

Likewise, we now have been given ‘the key’ and with it comes responsibility, faith based abilities and glorious reality.

The old self has died, the new is following the Messiah. The prophesied deliverer of God’s people, both Jew and gentile.

Jesus Christ became our savior and paid the price for redemption. Through redemption we were declared righteous in our Father’s eyes. The relationship we were created for had been restored for those who believe.

And thus knowing, believe and accept through faith: We now have The Key.

Written by: Michael La Tulippe