Thankful For the Locksmith

Back in the month of January, Kim and I arrived home late one Friday evening on one of those very, very cold nights that we have been having throughout this winter.  Of course we couldn’t wait to get into the warmth of the house. But when I put the key in the door lock and turned it, I found that although the key turned, the door would not unlock.  The lock had broken.  We couldn’t get the door open—and we have no other door by which to enter or leave the house. Kim and I were locked out—stuck on the outside!

Thankfully our daughter Joanna was home; she was actually locked on the inside. After a bit of discussion through the door and trying to figure things out, Joanna opened a front window, I found a chair, and at 11:45 p.m. on a freezing cold Friday night, Kim and I were climbing into our house through the window!  (We were hoping none of our neighbors would see us and call the cops!)  Once we were inside, like Joanna, we were now locked in. But, better to be locked in than locked out—especially on such a cold night!  Thankfully, the next morning a locksmith came.  (He too had to climb through the window!)  Eventually he took everything apart, put in a new lock, and we could once again come and go without having to climb through the window!  That day I was very, very thankful for that locksmith who unlocked our door.

The Bible shows us that we are all in need of what we might call a locksmith.  It shows us that, because of our sin we are all actually locked out of the Kingdom of God and in need of a way to get in. On our own we cannot open the door to the Kingdom. We do not possess the right key.  For us, it is like the lock is broken. We cannot do enough good works or practice enough religion or give enough money to get in. We needed a locksmith to come and open the door for us. Thankfully, by his grace, God sent Jesus to be that locksmith; Jesus came for the purpose of unlocking the door that we might enter in. 

The writer to the Hebrews says, “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.” (Hebrews 13:12 – NIV)  Earlier he wrote these words: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith….” (Hebrews 10:19-22 – NIV) 

We might say, Jesus died on the outside so that we can live on the inside!  By means of his death, Jesus unlocked the door to the Kingdom of God. We can now freely enter in!  We can now draw near to God!  So let’s give thanks for Jesus, the One who is our ultimate locksmith!

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris

www.pifny.org

PS – Remember to spring your clocks forward on Saturday night!!