“When I saw Jesus, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and now look—I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave” (and of everything else). Rev.1:17-18
Lord Jesus, what a kiss from heaven this passage is. The Apostle John knew well, and yet you wanted him to know you much better—especially in a difficult season of life. You will and do the same for us. We are eternally secure in your grasp (Jn.10:28-30), and yet you “place your right hand on us” when we need to experience your nearness and grace in times of vulnerability and fear. Hallelujah, and thank you.
Indeed, the keys that matter most aren’t in the hand of chance, cancer, calamities, or earthly kings. The keys to “death and the grave,” providence and pain, history and hope are securely in your hand, Jesus. We don’t have to fear getting older, the politics of mere men, the next chapter in our stories, or anything else. Not just because you have the keys, but because you are the key, Jesus—the source, sum, substance, sustainer, “song,” and Savior. ALL authority in heaven and on earth belong to you (Matt. 28:18). Whew! Amen! And Hallelujah!
The implications of these affirmations are magnificent, fear-sabotaging, and hope-fueling. You have the keys, the steering wheel, the chosen route, the glorious destination, and the perfectly timed arrival date. Forgive us for whining like 4-year-olds in the back seat, as we murmur, “Are we there yet?” Jesus, in July 2026 you are actively redeeming your every-nation Bride, making all things new, making your enemies your footstool (Ps.110:1), and working in all things for our good—no exceptions. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.
