I don’t know when or where I learned to value keys or who explained the concept to me (probably one of my grandparents). I was young and whatever they said made me want them. I soon had a collection from sardine tins, coffee cans, mail boxes, keys from old cars and equipment—basically any source.

Bundled on a string I wore them around my waist. My keys gave me a sense of power, of owning and locking and unlocking things, and of making machines go.

With Dad in extended military service, Mom took me to church twice a year at Christmas and Easter. Going so seldom made those times stand out. (To this day, I’m in awe of how much three to four-year-olds retain and understand. Those lessons imprinted my heart and stayed with me.)

Studying keys in any concordance yields treasure. When leaving a grocery store recently, I spotted and scooped up a fallen key from a sardine tin—in one instant the joys and memories flooded back.

Now and forever Jesus is the key. And every promise is true. Many verses are songs to sing. Here are just four of many.

Isaiah 22:22 “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”

Matthew 16:19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Revelation 1:18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

Revelation 3:7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”

Take time to do your own concordance study. Gather powerful keys to lock or unlock riches for this life and through eternity.