Jiddu Krishnamurti, an Indian philosopher, speaker and writer once remarked: “In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself.” Isaiah 22:22 confirms: “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”
Keys perform many different and important functions in life. They may resemble success, knowledge, power or freedom to name but a few. But, perhaps two of the most important features that a key can perform is to open happiness or unlock a heart. If we unlock our hearts, we then attain the ability to both receive and give love to others. It allows us to examine our true inner selves, to forgive both ourselves and more importantly, others and establish our true worth. We can assess ourselves as we really are. There is no falseness or forgery in the conclusion. What we see, is what we are. Corinthians 13:4-8 confirms: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”
Happiness also features prominently in our lives and is often linked with love. Happiness can be achieved in many ways. Helping or giving to others can be an excellent start in our quest. A relationship with God is another that can help us significantly. It enhances faith and trust and we also feel the splendour of His love. Planning for the future will also greatly improve our lives. We may experience excitement, it may provide goals to aim for which give us a positive direction. Ecclesiastes 3:12 reminds us: “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.”
A key has been defined as a piece of specifically designed metal with incisions that are suitable for fitting normal or warded locks in caskets, doors and other items. Their prime function is to unlock, lock, open or close. Matthew 16:19 reminds us: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
There was once a man who continually struggled in his quest to find the key to righteousness in life. Integrity featured prominently in his proposed future plans as for the majority of his lifespan he had been a trustworthy person. However, to date, this particular pursuit had to be considered as one of his few failings. None of his endeavours had succeeded.
He lacked the probity to achieve his ideal status due to the fact that for the past few years, the temptation and greed for money had surpassed him. He had temporarily wandered off the perfect path in life and become a dishonest person. 1 Peter 3:22 states: “Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”
He wanted so much to change his ways and become an upright person again but was continually drawn into the depths of misappropriation from the considerable wealth that his devious actions were procuring. He had been appointed as the chief accountant to a large national car park company situated in the city and was in charge of handling the completion and recording of all monetary ticket transactions.
He had discovered a flaw in the usual procedure that allowed him to swindle his employer out of considerable sums of money. After careful deliberation, he realised that if he substituted the original completed ticket from customers paying the required statutory payments and replaced them with identical, but fraudulent ones, of his own making, it provided him with a good and reliable source of income. These false tickets always revealed a lower amount than was actually received. This provided the scope to pocket the difference between the two sums. The fake tickets were specially reproduced in vast quantities by a local printer to avoid suspicion. He was making between two and three thousand pounds per month by his simple but dishonest actions.
However, he was continually torn between good and evil. Part of him wanted to return to an honest lifestyle, but the temptation of easy money became too great. He had deviated from the path of righteousness by his malefactions. Proverbs 4:11 informs us: “I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.”
For years the system had been completely automated and printed digital tickets were issued which were difficult to tamper with or replace. During this period he was completely reliable and trustworthy. However, one day the system failed and an emergency manual system had to be introduced to keep the car park open without significant loss of business. As the chief accountant, he persuaded the manager in charge of the car park, to adopt the new system permanently as it provided the easiest solution to pursue his scheme of embezzlement. The opportunity of fortune had beset him that he couldn't resist. All of the tickets were now hand-written by an attendant operating at the entrance and exit to the car park rather than on a digital basis. As a customer's car entered the park, the attendant would note the precise time on the pre-printed manual ticket and hand it to the driver. On his exit, the attendant would note the exact departure time and calculate the parking charge on an hourly basis.
The customer would pay the required fee and the attendant would place the completed ticket into a locked box to which only the chief accountant had the key. When the box was handed to him at the end of each day, together with the takings received, the chief accountant would open it with the key in his possession, destroy selected tickets and replace them with ones stating an earlier time of departure. This intimated to the owners of the company that the vehicle had remained in the car park for a significantly shorter period of time. The result considerably enhanced his lifestyle and provided him with a comfortable existence. Viktor E. Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and author once remarked: “Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfilment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone's task is unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.”
Every time he tried to change direction in the hope of reverting to an honest life, his dream was shattered for one reason or another. He regularly found himself facing another locked door and could not find the right key to unlock it. The change of heart was eventually decided for him when one day, without any warning, official auditors arrived to do a full inspection. His malefactions were immediately identified and his company was advised. During the following process of incrimination, his bank account was examined and the additional investments noted. He was immediately dismissed and subsequently prosecuted for embezzlement. He served five years in prison for his crimes but re-emerged a new man. The keys to freedom had been taken away which he never wanted to experience again. He decided to attempt to re-seek the key to the kingdom of heaven by adopting a new and righteous life. Matthew 6:24 confirms: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Amen.
