Ecclesiastes 4:12 – Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Yesterday I gave my keys to my parents’ house to the buyer’s real estate agent. The buyer had completed her final walk through of the house, but asked if I would wait for her parents, from another country, to arrive and view the house. I wasn’t sure how long it would take. The agent said that if I preferred, and if I would, I could leave the keys with her and she would then leave them with the escrow agent. I hesitated, but something about the agent told me she was family so I gave them to her. Later I found out that we both belonged to the same family, we are both Christians.
It was not easy to give the keys to her. Technically, I did not need to do so for probably about another week. I have always carried the keys to my parents’ house since I was child in elementary school. Then, it was my home, of course I had keys. Then the day came when I moved out to marry my bride. My parents told me to keep the keys and that their home would always be my home and I was always welcome at any time. So over the last fifty-three years I have carried the keys to my parents’ house, along with my home keys and my car keys.
Yesterday was the anniversary of the day that, four years ago, my Dad went home to be with Jesus. In April of this year my mother went home to be with Jesus. Oh yes, she was looking forward to reuniting with my Dad, but rest assured, she was most looking forward to seeing Jesus. After giving my house keys to my parents’ house, later yesterday evening, my wife and I went out to mark the anniversary of my Dad’s passing. As we walked out to the car I pulled the keys from my pocket and saw only two keys on the key ring, the car key and the key to our home. Missing were the keys to my parents’ house. I stopped and looked at the key ring that was missing the keys to my parents’ house. It hit me like a sledge hammer. Oh my, oh my! Now only two keys. Oh my!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”
This is a different season. It has been a very difficult season with more difficult times coming. Many changes that are a ramrod through my body, heart and soul. Yet, the above verse from Ecclesiastes speak to me. Life is such a precious gift. It is an ocean with ebbs and flows. This last night I could not sleep. A flood of memories from my life. Of my parents and the countless memories of their home. Of the love they shared with us. Of two people who came from very meager beginnings to buy a house and generously raise three children. Of love that helped me to understand what overpowering love was, and is. Their love, for all of us, and so many others, was an example to help me understand the love of God.
As I look back, though for my early years I did not know, I was never alone. I have always been loved. By grandparents and my parents and by aunts and uncles, and all that love led me to my bride whom has loved me through so many years, so many successes and too many failures. I have been loved. It was her and I facing life and then we found that we were not a two strand cord, but a three strand cord as we came to walk not only with each other but also with Jesus our Savior and Lord. My parents started off as a two strand cord, and then became a three strand cord with Jesus. My bride and I started out as a two strand cord and also became a three strand cord. For both of my parents and for my wife and I we learned how much stronger, how unbreakable is a three stand cord when the strongest cord is Jesus.
This has been a difficult time with many loved relatives and friends passing on. My brother reflected that the last four years have been very difficult for him. He is looking at the sale of my parents’ house as a new beginning. A time for new beginnings. His thought reminded me that seasons change, it is the way of life. During the night as memories flooded through me it would have been easy to mourn over the many memories. But the Lord reminded me that He is interwoven within me and always has been. He reminded me that I was always loved and He was with me to keep me through the very difficult times. He was with me to make my wife and I a three strand cord. Now, as I look at the two keys on keychain, I remember the third key that I have, the one given to me by Jesus, the keys to heaven. My heart is light. I don’t mourn the memories I celebrate them. I am thankful for them. They are testimonies of God’s ever present love to me. I am thankful for the third key that belongs to my Father’s house and is the one I will never have to pass on. I don’t have two keys, I have three, and the one from Jesus, the one to my Father’s house, I will always have. Praise God! Isn’t He so good! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”