Day 18/40 The key to true life
- Margit Kresin
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
The other day, I misplaced my car key again. It had simply disappeared into thin air. Since I urgently needed to go into town, I took my spare key out of its hiding place, but I just didn't feel comfortable. There was no question that it worked, but I knew it was only the backup key. That evening, I immediately began searching for the original, for my key. I was reminded of my first search for God. Back then, as a young teenager, I sensed that there was more than just my parents, siblings, relatives, teachers, and classmates, and so I set out to find the God I had been told about in religious education classes as a student and by my mother during evening prayers.
God promises: If you seek me, you will find me. If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. This is what the LORD promises. I will restore your fortunes. (Jeremiah 29:13-14)
I eagerly began reading the Bible. The Bible tells us that God longs for fellowship with us humans. He demonstrated His affection most clearly by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to us. Eventually, I realized that I could only find God the Father by accepting Jesus as my Savior and Redeemer.
I invited Jesus into my life. With the key of life, Jesus opened the door to my heart and made room with me. My life changed. Jesus became my role model because he showed us how God the Father envisions life with us. Jesus Christ introduced us to His, or rather our, "Father in heaven." God's messenger models for us how we should be. Jesus was full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He reflected the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Jesus says: I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me! (John 14:6)
After the resurrection, Jesus became the mediator between us and God. After Jesus' death and resurrection, the Son of God took his rightful place at the right hand of God and reigns again alongside the almighty and eternal God. Everything that is in the Father flows to us, so to speak, through the Son. When I placed my life in Jesus' hands and placed the direction of my life in his hands, he sent the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, and lead me. I learned to listen to his still, yet loving voice and follow it.
My love for God grew daily. I was happy to live in this fellowship with God the Father, Jesus my Lord, and the Holy Spirit.
One day, however, I must have lost or misplaced the key to true life. I allowed myself to be seduced and strayed from the right path. I stumbled and eventually ended up on the wrong track. I was drawn deeper and deeper into the vortex of sin. I often called out to God, but the temptation was greater. Everything around me seemed to be falling apart. My first husband died, I had to care for my children alone, and everything was getting out of hand. The Holy Spirit often reminded me that all I had to do was turn around and find the key again, but my trust had become far too weak.
One morning, I woke up in the hospital. I had suffered a stroke. I took this blow very seriously. I got on my knees and asked the Lord for forgiveness. I surrendered my life to Him again. God was full of grace and allowed Himself to be found. I was able to experience Him taking me in His arms. It reminded me of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15). I found my way back to my first great love.
My life quickly changed for the better. I began to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more and more clearly again. God spoke to me through dreams and visions. Finally, in 2016, I was baptized again. I wanted to be able to stand before the throne of God with my body cleansed. I wanted to send an outward sign that I belonged completely to Jesus and that God had the right to take a place in the ark of the covenant in my heart. After all those years of straying, an intact relationship with God was finally possible again.
Everyone who believes in Jesus—that is, trusts in him and lives with him—is united with God, the Creator of heaven and earth. "Now we have fellowship with the true God through his Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 5:20) We become children of God and no longer need to live by our own strength, but rather we live by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ is the Chosen One, the Messiah of God, and the key to true life. He alone leads us to true and eternal life in the presence of God.
Salvation is found in no-one else but Jesus Christ, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
I encourage you. Turn around, repent.
Life with Jesus leads you into the presence of our almighty and eternal God. Only with this key to life will you be able to enjoy a life in God's presence today and in the future.
Fellowship with God strengthens you and fills you with God's love and mercy. His grace fills you. It gives you courage to endure the coming times, and together with Jesus, you will build God's kingdom on earth.
Seek the key to true life, and when you find it, Jesus will open the door of your heart to God's throne room and personally welcome you. Only then can you find the peace your soul seeks.
Amen
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