The One Key Needful

by Robert Mohns

Recently I found myself living not the dream but rather the parables of Jesus. Particularly the “lost and found” parables of Luke 15. I had just got off the bus from Edmonton and discovered that my keys (and there are a lot of them) were not where they should be in my pocket. 

In that moment, the parable of the lost coin took on a whole new meaning. The bus terminal, located in the warehouse district, was closed, offering no respite from the cold (-25°) and no plug-in for a dying phone. 

Until then I had not understood the importance of keys. That night I realized that no key meant no access to my car to get home. And, right after that reality sank in, came the crushing truth that even if I did get home, I didn’t have the key to get in the house. 

It was amid my trying to figure out how I could get myself into the house—a locksmith, perhaps?—that my son reminded me I had given a key to one of his trusted friends. Despite the late hour, my son’s friend traveled across town to open the door. I still haven’t found my bundle of keys yet, but thanks to the kindness of someone else who had the house key, I am happy to say I have possession of the one key I needed. 

Since then, I frequently check to see if I still am in possession of that key. But something else has changed: I am free from carrying the weight of all those other keys which I had accumulated over time, and which I no longer need.

In the opening of his first letter to the Corinthian congregation—which was divided among groups contending that they were the holders of the “right key”—Paul proclaims this God-given truth: there is only one true key. “We preach Christ crucified” for the salvation of sinners (1 Corinthians 1:23).

To this day there are many who would seek to empty the cross of Christ of its power.

To this day there are many who would seek to empty the cross of Christ of its power. Some point to signs and wonders, others point to knowledge or wisdom, as if locksmiths can pick the locks of heaven’s gates and serve up a salvation to their own liking.

And what of us? The festival season of the church is coming to an end. There is a temptation to lay aside the one key necessary for us and for our salvation. Both self and devil conspire against us. With doubting Thomas, we find ourselves locked out in the darkness of our unbelief—our unbelief that we are truly sinners; our unbelief that Christ, the only beloved Son of God came down from heaven to die, and that His death counts for us; and our unbelief that He also rose from the dead that we might be justified and through Him have eternal life.

How easily we lose the one key needful. Instead, we accumulate useless keys on our earthly journey that weigh us down—keys that keep us away from Christ, and keys that unloose all sorts of sin, death, and hell on earth and in our lives.

According to the abundant grace and mercy He has for us, the Keyholder, Jesus Christ, stands waiting and watching at the door for His prodigals’ return. Just as He invited Thomas to grab hold of Him and His wounds, and empowered him by His Word and Spirit to stop doubting and believe, so His invitation stands for all time for all people, including you and me. This Keyholder has power to do what He promises. He holds the keys to death and hades (Revelation 1:17-18). He has the power to open heaven to those who believe. He exercised that power through the cross and the empty tomb. And He hasn’t stopped. Our God is at work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, exercising this power to save sinners—to save you and me.

Christ also exercises that power through His Church on earth in the Office of the Keys. This is the special authority that Christ has given the Church to forgive the sins of repentant sinners and to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.

Dear redeemed, how precious are these keys that our Lord has provided for His Church and the pastors who publicly exercise them! I give thanks to God that He knows how easily we lose the one key needful and has provides us with faithful and loving servants who bring Christ Crucified to us. God grant that He would empower us to cling to Christ, our only key. And God grant that He would raise up more pastors among us.

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Rev. Robert Mohns is Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s West Regional Pastor.

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