Parable of the Key

Jesus frequently spoke to the crowds of people that followed Him through a parable or allegory.  These stories in which people, things or events have a symbolic meaning are meant to draw the listener into a spiritual encounter with God.  Last Sunday God used a situation with a lost car key as an allegory to help me understand the way we should live in this period of time.
 
As I was getting ready to drive to church I went to pick up my car key.  It was not in the place where I usually keep it.  I searched the pockets of the clothes that I wore the day before.  I emptied my pocket book.  I look at the ground around my car and at the front door. Ultimately, I had to get the spare key which I have not used in the 11 years that I have owned my car.
 
When I got home from church I re-checked all the places I had previously checked and looked at a few new places.  Eventually I saw it. Saturday was the day that we needed to turn back our clocks from daylight savings time.  I had decided to do that in the afternoon when I walked by the alarm clock.  I laid my key beside the clock to accomplish this task and then moved onto something else. Immediately I said to the Lord, "I know you must have something to teach me through this set of circumstances." And so He did...
 
We live in difficult and chaotic times.  There are days when I want to turn back the hands of time.  Our nation was established with godly principles, and our founding fathers wanted these treasures to reign.  The treasures of life like wisdom, peace, righteousness and justice seemed to be much more available in days past.  God reminded me that He decided when each of us would walk on the earth. He wanted us to be alive today and has placed gifts in each of us to bless those around us for such a time as this.  He has not forgotten us.  He said, "Lay aside the old key for I have a new one for you." His desire is for us to pursue Him.  He will show us how to unlock the treasure chest in heaven to bring its contents to earth.
 
The Lord's desire is expressed in several Psalms.  These writings make it clear that His throne was established in righteousness and justice and that He is a refuge for those who come to Him. (Psalm 9:8-10, 33:4-6, 89:14-16 and 97:1-2)  The prophet Isaiah hits the nail on the head with his word from the Lord in Chapter 33:5-6.  "The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.  He will be the sure foundation (stability-KJV) for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."  Reverence/fear of the Lord arises in us as we draw closer to Him.
 
I believe the Lord is telling us through this parable of the key that He has already put into place everything we need to live in this time. Isaiah 11:3-4 talks about how God planned to bring Jesus to earth as a model of how to live in His ways of peace and strength and wisdom.  "And He will delight in the fear of the Lord.  He will not judge what He sees with His eyes, or decide by what He hears with His ears, but with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth..."
 
The Lord loves His Church--those who are called by His name.  He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3)  He wants us to have abundant life. (John 10:10)  We must fully embrace the fear/reverence of the Lord for it is the key that opens up the storehouses of heaven.  Let us declare the faithfulness, goodness and mercy of our God.  As the Lord says through the prophet Jeremiah: "'But let him who boasts boast about this:  That he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:24)