By Tanja
What would you do if you lost your keys? Locked out of a room you needed to be in, you throw your hands in the air and turn around. Putting your hands on your hips, you wish you had been careful with those keys.
Open the book of Revelations, and you will notice that Jesus is trusted with the keys to eternal life. “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18
The word ‘Hades’ used in verse is “haides” in Greek, which means “the place and state of departed souls,” for example, the “grave or hell.”[1] The Passion Translation Bible says, “And I unlock the keys that unlock death and the unseen world.”[2] So, we can get a picture of what Jesus has authority over, the grave and the unseen world. Jesus died on the cross, and He resurrected from the dead; therefore, has the power over life and death. Jesus has “authority” over death[3] and the keys to release us from our sins[4] and sicknesses.
Would you find solace in what Nancy Guthrie says since Jesus has the keys? She says we don’t need to be afraid, so that’s one less thing to be worried about; Jesus holds the keys:
“As we hear the powerful, penetrating voice of Jesus saying to us, “Don’t be afraid . .. I hold the keys to Death,” it begins to change everything about the way we think about life and death. We’re not so afraid anymore. We can surrender our need to always be in control, confident that Jesus not only holds the keys in His hands; He holds us in His hands as well.”[5]
Yes, Jesus holds you and your whole life in His hands, this is not just a comforting thought; as a believer in Jesus, you can cling to that. Your anchor is Jesus. Jesus holds the keys, and He has the power to open life up. Jesus has the final say about everything and everyone.
It tells us about the Sovereignty of God when Jesus has the final say about everything. We have the assurance that Jesus has the key to our salvation, to eternal life; we can trust Him!
We should not worry or fear the future; we have a God who is faithful to save us and loves us.
When we come across circumstances that are not fair, remember that Jesus has the final say. He will take care of you until the end, and you can keep your eyes on Jesus.
Meditate on this Psalm:
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— He who watches over you will not slumber.. Psalm 121:1-3
Prayer for you:
Jesus, I lift my eyes to the mountains. I am saying my help comes from You. You are the Maker of heaven and earth. You will never stop watching over my life. I can trust in You.
Amen
[1] Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, Genuine Black, Wider Margins. (S.l.: Amg Pubs, 2008), 2082.
[2] Brian Simmons, trans., The Passion Translation. The New Testament: With Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs (Racine, Wisconsin: Broadstreet Publishing, 2017), 1127.
[3] Robert W. Wall, Revelation (Grand Rapids: Baker Pub. Group, 2011), 63.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Nancy Guthrie, Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2022), 60.