Your Keys

In a recent message, pastor Tony Evans of Dallas, TX, was talking of giving your keys to a friend that might drive you home!  Sounds like a familiar idea.  Right?  It is! 

Often heard in the days before New Year’s Eve is the message that if drinking, please give your keys to someone not drinking to drive you home.  Why? Because, if you drink, even a little, you are impaired!  Alcohol slows response mechanisms making a drinker who is driving a danger to self and to others.  Therefore, for personal safety and the safety of others, give your keys to one not drinking.  A good friend says, “Give me your keys.”  One who has not drunk is clear-eyed and clear-minded and able to drive safely.  For the drinker, give over your keys.  It seems quite logical! 

Except many disagree, thinking their alcohol intake is not significant and they can drive just fine.  Most think and say: “I’m not impaired.  I’m fine.  I can drive just fine!  I’ll keep my keys and drive myself home.  Thanks, anyway!”  And off they go. 

Are you getting the spiritual lesson here?

The truth is that every single person ever born is a “drinker.”  That is, all people have drunk the elixir of self, pride, greed, envy and lust and do so day after day.  Other drinks often daily consumed are:

   Money – possessions – materialism

   Anger – retaliation – bitterness 

   Power – control – rights

   Lying – cheating – stealing (not being precise with one’s word)

   Self-righteousness – I’m good – I don’t need help – I can do it

So, all men are slowed in their thinking and thus unable to see themselves as drunk, foggy or even a little impaired.  They think they are sufficiently clear-minded and fully able to get home on their own. 

But not according to God!  People are not going to get home – at least to the heavenly home often anticipated.  Now if “home” means nirvana, a paradise of one’s own making, coming back as a cow or becoming a god of your own planet, then keep your keys and drive yourself or give them to whomever you think will get you to that home.  But the Friend Jesus won’t drive you to any home but His home.  And His home?  It is an eternity with God in splendor, perfect bliss, great joy, abounding love and fulfilling purpose.  For that home, give your keys to the Friend who offers to drive you home. 

But men argue back, “I’m not that bad.  I don’t need help!”

The Friend retorts, “You are impaired, give me your keys.”

Man resists.  

Jesus repeats, “Give me your keys!”  He persists as He is not willing that they miss home.

Why is it men resist such a gracious offer?  Because keys represent authority, power, autonomy, freedom, and control.  To give up one’s keys is to give someone else headship.  Giving over keys to another means submitting.

So many, rather than relinquish self-rule and personal freedom, think they can get to Heaven driving themselves – they will Not!  No one gets there except via Jesus, John 14:6.

For those who desire God’s home of joy, bliss, beauty, love and worth; give your keys to Jesus!  Let Him drive!  It will mean the balance of this life will be at His speed and on His roads, which may not be the smoothest nor the safest, but He will get you home!

Give your keys to Jesus!