Revelation II
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Revelation 1:17-18 ESV)
Keys
I used to have a large collection of keys. Some were interesting, like skeleton keys, antique safe keys, huge keys, tiny keys, and oddly shaped mysterious keys.
Other keys in my collection were more mundane. Old house keys, most NOT from homes I had lived in. Old car keys, most NOT from automobiles that I had owned. Old padlock keys, deadbolt keys, shed keys, and keys that I did not know the purpose. And they were dull.
But all those keys had one thing in common.
They did not fit anything, as far as I knew.
They did not open anything, lock anything, help anything, or serve any purpose.
Jesus’ keys are NOT like my keys.
They are important, beautiful, valuable, and necessary for Christians.
Because Jesus lived through death, and was resurrected, He holds the keys of death. Which really mean also the keys of life.
Because Jesus accepted Christians’ punishment for our myriad of sins, He holds the keys of Hades. Which really means also the keys of heaven.
I knew my parents trusted me when they gave me keys to our house, our car, and our garage.
We know God trusts Jesus because Jesus has the keys of death and life, hades and heaven.
And when we trust Jesus, He uses those keys for us!
He is the door to life out of death, He holds those keys. He is the key to heaven, and freedom from Hades, He holds those keys.