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Listen while you read: "Near To The Heart Of God"1 (Lyrics) |
When I worked at the hardware store, one of my jobs was to cut keys. People would arrive with a variety of keys and ask me to make duplicates for them.
Duplicating a key required three steps:
- Finding the right key blank to match the original. If the length, width, or grooves were off, the new key would not work.
- Placing the blank key tightly in the vise. If the blank were a bit wobbly as the grinder passed over it, the new key would not be an exact match and would not open the lock.
- Examining the new key and carefully polishing and filing down rough edges, no matter how small, or the key would not fit the lock.
The Scriptures tell us that sin is what locks the door to heaven:
Romans 3:23-24 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (NIV)
There was a time when I was somewhat puzzled about this sin business. I viewed sin as something really terrible, the type of deeds that I certainly didn't do. I knew that I wasn't perfect, but who was? All in all, I was a pretty decent person, helping others and trying to do what was right.
But then, through the Scriptures, I came to realize that any word or action that I spoke or committed that was not perfect, that was in any way hurtful to God, myself, or others, was sin. In God's sight, sin is sin, no matter how large or small, and it separates us from Him. It condemns us until it is confessed and forgiven through the power of Jesus and His work on the cross, which is the key that opens the lock on the door to heaven.
Although the duplicating of keys was quite simple and took a very short amount of time, the steps required were mandatory if the key were to open the intended lock.
Likewise, the key to heaven is obtained and works only as we follow the necessary steps:
- Recognizing our sin, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
- Confessing our sin with true sorrow.
- Embracing by faith Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, inviting Him into our lives.
Inviting Jesus into our lives brings forgiveness and cleansing of all our wrongdoings and grants us the key to the door of heaven and an eternal relationship with God.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You have not permanently locked and barred the door of heaven due to our sin, but have thrown it wide open for all those who embrace by faith Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. May many choose today to obtain the key of heaven and eternal life through belief in Jesus, in Whose name, we pray. Amen.
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Tuesday, April 16, 2024 – In Peru — Please pray for this summer season at our beach-town home to be a blessing to the little Fellowship we have started and that the Lord would "add to our numbers those who are being saved".
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Thank you.
Yes! Jesus is the key! Blessings.
Amen. I echo your prayer. May it be so.
Great post and reminder, Lynne! God bless!
Amen, Lynne! Only by the blood of Jesus! Blessings.
Thank you, Lynne for this clear and reassuring devotional.
Didn’t think this was YOU, Lynn. Really enjoyed it. Always great to clear up false assumptions.
This is a great illustration with an apt application, Lynne — plus I learned something about key duplication!
Thank you, Lynne. You have explained the wonderful redemptive work of Jesus so well; the key to Eternal Life.
Once again you have brought back memories. I used to do that very task when I worked in my father’s business in the “50s”, and he had a machine to duplicate keys.
Thanks Lynne, I, like you, while working at the store had to cut keys, a few were returned to be done over! And over the years I also have realized that a sin, no matter, what it involves, is a sin. Now, to always remember that Jesus does forgive our sins, so well explained, again thanks. Blessings.
Good Morning, Lynne –
It is always good to be reminded of the steps and stages to doing right.
Especially to find the right key to heaven. Especially now that I am aging and not remembering so well, your work is encouragement to move closer to God’s word. Blessings to your work.
Good morning, Lynne, and many thanks for another of your special devotional writings. You always do a great way of correlating an everyday activity into a way we can simply connect with our Lord and receive His grace.
He certainly is ever ready to receive and respond to our call and is truly our “Key to Heaven”. Blessings for these writings you do for the daily devotionals program.
Good morning, Lynn,
You wrote, “There was a time when I was somewhat puzzled about this sin business.”
I had a discussion about sin one time and this fellow told me “it is only sin if you believe it is sin” (?) In a discussion about the 10 commandments a fellow told me “I have done them all except murder.”
Christ is the key indeed.
Blessings.
Thanks Lynne!
Your devotion today took me back to my teen years when I worked in my parents’ hardware store. Cutting keys was one of the things I had to learn how to do, and precise care and attention was needed for sure. Unfortunately, I did not relate the skill of key cutting to sinfulness in life.
I do so enjoy your analogies in life! Thank you so much for another lesson in biblical life.
Blessings!
(ON)
Dear Lynne,
I love the picture you painted of the perfect KEY to heaven being the work of Jesus on the cross dying for us. It made me think of the verse about Jesus standing at the door knocking, wanting to come into our hearts, and waiting for us to open the door with faith to let Him in. Then I imagine Jesus handing us the KEY to eternal life and welcoming us into the Kingdom.
Have a blessed week.
Good morning, Lynne,
Great analogy for the “key to heaven”. For years I thought sin was those “big” sins which of course I didn’t do. What a rude awaken knowing that even thinking some things was a sin. I am grateful that I can ask for forgiveness because it is hard not to sin. I think one of my biggest sins is being judgmental and I really do try, but often fail. Of course, God might see something else I do as my biggest sin. I ask God for help in recognizing my sin and how to improve because I need my eyes opened many times before I really and truly get it.
Wishing you all the best and continue to help us all grow in our understanding and faith.
Just as the key to your front door you use daily, the key to confession and forgiveness also is every day. In this we find peace and comfort.
As usual, excellent. Thank you, Lynne. And may God richly bless you and your family. Your friend in Jesus.