The Key – Breath of Life Women’s Ministries

by Freida Harrison

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV (1984)

There I stood. Locked out of my own house. Standing in the garage, looking through the window of the door into my nice, warm, comfy house that I had walked out of only minutes before. All I had done was step out to bring in the trash bin so the wind wouldn’t blow it into the narrow street that runs in front of our house. And now I couldn’t get back in! How did that happen? I knew I hadn’t locked the doorknob. So, there I stood…no key, no phone…thinking about the two cups of coffee I had consumed that morning…and the fact that I looked like something the cat had dragged in, then rejected! I wasn’t feeling well that day, so I had dressed in mismatched sweats, a wind jacket that Goodwill would have trashed, no make-up, and I hadn’t even run a brush through my hair. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone by just dashing out to retrieve the trash can!

Swallowing my pride, I began walking toward my neighbor’s house to see if I could possibly be fortunate enough for him to be at home. Maybe, just maybe, he’d be home since it was a holiday, but I admit, I was full of doubts. Since we live in a country type setting, with everyone living on at least an acre, I had plenty of time to become more skeptical by the minute. What was I going to do if my neighbor wasn’t home? It was going to be a LONG time before hubby got home!

Much to my surprise, my neighbor appeared at his door shortly after I rang the doorbell, and he quickly located the key to my house! YAY!! After apologizing for my scuzzy appearance, which he politely just laughed about, we walked to my house, through the garage, and to the door that wouldn’t open. My neighbor tried the key…and it didn’t work. That doorknob would not turn no matter what he tried. At least I knew I hadn’t accidentally turned the lock before going out, but why didn’t the key work?

My neighbor told me to stay there out of the wind, and he took the key and entered the house through the front door to attempt to unlock the contrary door from the inside. As I stood there in my garage looking inside my own house with my neighbor inside trying to help me in through that door, the thought occurred to me of what it would be like to be at Heaven’s door, looking in at family, friends, Jesus, God, angels, comfort, and not be able to go through the door. Panic filled my mind! What a frightening thought to be so close, yet so far away and not be able to cross into the heavenly promise God has planned for His children. What is it that we need to be able to cross into that Eternal Home? The Key! Not just any key…we need THE KEY! We need Jesus! He is the key to the gates of Heaven. Thankfully, God has made it very easy for us to take the key with us wherever we go. We simply put Jesus in our heart and keep him there! We won’t have to worry about a doorknob because He lets us into those blessed gates of Heaven that all of His children joyfully look forward to passing through as we leave this earth. Lord, please help me keep my eyes on Jesus and continue to carry Him in my heart at all times.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:14 NIV (1984)

As for the doorknob, it has been replaced, thanks to my sweet hubby. Evidently, something inside it broke, and even though my neighbor finally got it to open, he suggested we get a new one. When I look back on that day, I see how it was a day of blessings. God took care of me and blessed me by helping me find a way back in the house, and I was reminded to watch and make sure I am continually carrying the key to heaven, Jesus, in my heart.