PRAGUE KEYS

Vaclav Havel in Wenceslas Square, 1989

 An element dear to the people of the Czech   Republic is something as simple as a key.

 It is 1989.

 The Nazis and Hitler are long gone - replaced by the Soviets and Communism.  But there is great unrest in the Eastern Bloc.  Demonstrations are happening - and here - in what is now the Czech Republic, hundreds of thousands of Czechs and Slovaks pour into the grand boulevard in Prague known as Wenceslas Square.

Leader Vaclav Havel, who would go on to become the president, stands on the balcony of the building pictured and dangles keys over the edge, symbolizing the unlocking of doors and as a way to tell the Communists:  'It's time to go home.'  The huge crowd answers back by raising their own keys and noisily waving them in the air.

Shortly thereafter, the Soviets capitulate and the Czechs go free with little to no bloodshed.  It was called the Velvet Revolution.

Wenceslas Square today - Prague, Czech Republic

It is moments such as these one wishes he could have witnessed firsthand.  History is made as the air rings with thousands and thousands of jingling keys -- all expressing a desire to be free.

Keys are 'key.'

Jesus told us He holds the keys of Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18).

The balcony from which Vaclav Havel jingled his keys

He told Peter that He would build His church and the gates of Hades would be unable to overpower it.  Then He said He would give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:18, 19).

You hold a key today, believer in Christ.  You have authority symbolized by the possession of that key -- modeling and preaching the Gospel opens the Kingdom of heaven to you and to those who haven't yet believed.

Jesus ratifies in heaven what is done in His name and in obedience to His Word on the earth.

You hold a key, Christ-follower.  It represents freedom.  It represents a revolution.  It represents a transition of power from the Ruler of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light.

Take out your key, friend - and jingle it loud.

And be blessed.