Kingdom Keys
Soul Snack 104/12 ... Kingdom Keys
Keys are about understanding, privilege, authority and ownership. Keys are received by birth, education, promotion, good association or by wealth. Keys can be learned and earned, they can be traded, lost and won; but no matter what efforts are expended, what power is held or what friendships are known some keys can only be received by a gift.
The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven are only ever given. To unlock the vault, to release the latch of paradise no man can presume upon and no man can pursue.
In Eden satan promised the keys (understanding) to being like God were to be simply received by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. These keys he claimed, would open the eyes of Eden's natives to all that was eternal without injury.
"You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. "God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. (Gen 3:4-5)
To this very day the Tree Of Knowledge promises the same deception. It calls me to stroll the hallowed halls of learning, scour the mighty libraries of the world or digest all that Google could offer within google's god-like reach and THEN receive the keys of heaven; BUT the Tree Of Knowledge does not hold these keys to give.
The Keys to the Kingdom Jesus gave to King David (Is 22:22), the apostle Peter (Matt 16:19) and also operated as a gift for the Church in Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-8).
It is in understanding that keys are turned, but is from the Tree of Life (Jesus) alone that the keys are given.
Yep - the secrets of the Kingdom can be opened, the panorama of heaven may be gazed upon and the joy of Jesus lived, but they are not found from man's learning, dead men's texts or the spurious wisdom of collective opinions; they are simply a heavenly deposited gift for those who would choose to only chew on the Tree of Life.
Today's Soul Snippet:
"Aim for heaven and then God will throw in earth." ~ anon