“The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.” – Revelation 3:7b 

Scripture reading: Revelation 3:7-13

Keys are increasingly unimportant today. You can open doors and start cars without keys. In the ancient world, however, keys were symbols of power. If you had a lot of keys you were an important person with access to a lot of things.

As great David’s greater son, Jesus has the key of David, with authority in heaven and earth. With this key to the door of salvation, Jesus can admit people to His kingdom or exclude them. There’s only one reason why the door of salvation opens and it’s because Christ has the key.

In most religions there’s a road followed by a gate. You live the right way, be a good person, and you pass through the gate. Jesus teaches us that the gate comes first and then the road. We learn in the Bible that Jesus Himself is the gate. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the door” (John 10:7,9) and later, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6).

At the gate, which Christ opens for all believers, there’s a cross. Before we can enter the gate we must kneel at the cross, confess our sins and in faith look to Jesus Who paid the death penalty for those sins. At the cross we seek and receive forgiveness. The only way through the gate is through Jesus and the only way to God is through His cross.

Suggestions for prayer

Thank the Lord that Jesus has the key of David and is the door of salvation and pray that God would bring you to the cross to seek and receive forgiveness.

Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.