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7 Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven

  • Writer: Trace Pirtle
    Trace Pirtle
  • Jun 16
  • 7 min read

Updated: Jul 3

What if the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the experience of heaven on earth use the same "Master Key"? Through a father's patient driving lessons on narrow country roads and seven transformative principles, discover how God's divine driver's education prepares us to navigate the narrow way that leads to life—on earth and in heaven. From the first awakening key to the last teaching key, these keys may change how you see both your spiritual journey and your everyday possibilities.


Brass key and tag with "Open Heaven," alongside a silver ring, rest on a stone near rippling water. Warm, serene setting.
The "Master Keys" to the Kingdom of Heaven

I was nine years old when my dad opened my eyes to possibilities – possibilities I was just beginning to discover. Standing beside his weathered green 1944 Willys Army jeep, I suddenly understood that someday I wouldn't have to be limited to peddling my bike or depend on someone else to drive me around. Learning to drive would become my ticket to freedom.


My dad said, "Once you learn to drive a standard transmission, you'll never see the world the same way again."


He was right. The moment I realized I could learn to drive, especially a stick shift, everything changed. No longer would I be restricted to my bicycle's radius or someone else's schedule. This was freedom incarnate, waiting to be unlocked by the right keys and proper instruction.


The 7 Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven


As I've reflected on this memory through the lens of faith, I realize that my earthly dad’s driver's education mirrors our Heavenly Father's method of preparing us for kingdom living. The 7 Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven aren't just theological concepts—they're instruments that transform us from Christian youngsters into kingdom ambassadors.


When we recall the Lord’s prayer and repeat the words,


"Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" Matthew 6:10,

we acknowledge that God is sovereign and holds the keys to heaven and hell, both in this lifetime and eternally. 


Key #1: Awakening


Before we can appreciate learning how to drive, we must awaken to the benefits of driving over walking. While it’s possible to walk across the country, as a practical matter, it’s better to drive (or fly). 


We can apply the same analogy to Christianity; however, we must first acknowledge that there's more to our finite existence and what we can accomplish in our own strength. We acknowledge an Ultimate Creator. 


"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" Genesis 1:1

God’s opening line establishes the foundation of all possibility. If we can't accept that God spoke everything into existence, we'll struggle to believe He can transform our earthly limitations into heavenly opportunities.


Jesus confirmed this:


"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26

Awakening to God's creative power opens our eyes to possibilities beyond our natural limitations. We're not limited to pedestrian spiritual living—God has kingdom transportation available. But, unlike driving or flying rather than walking across the country, without God, you can’t get there from here.


Key #2: Faith


When I turned sixteen, there was only one way to legally drive: through the California Department of Motor Vehicles. I couldn't negotiate with other agencies or create my own licensing system. There was one gatekeeper.


Jesus made an equally exclusive claim:


"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6

Like the DMV for driving privileges, Jesus is the exclusive gatekeeper for access to the kingdom. You can try alternatives, but eventually, there will be consequences. Faith means accepting that there is only one way to receive the keys to heaven—through Jesus Christ.


Jeremiah recognized this:


"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it'" Jeremiah 6:16

Key #3: Trust


My dad chose the stick-shift Army jeep because he believed mastering fundamentals would make me a better driver. I had to trust his method, even when friends learned later on easier automatics during high school driver’s education.


When Jesus asked His disciples who men say He was, Peter answered correctly based on experience and trust. He said that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus told Peter,


"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 16:19

This reassures us that if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and invest time learning His way, we'll receive our keys and experience new freedom "on earth as it is in heaven." We must trust that His instruction method is superior.


The psalmist understood: 


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6

Key #4: Instruction


Every vehicle comes with an owner's manual. If there's an instruction manual for the 7 Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, it's God's Word, the Holy Bible.


Paul wrote:


"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16-17

This divine manual contains all the necessary knowledge and skills to obtain the keys. It's our contemporary GPS for navigating the kingdom.


David expressed the same confidence:


"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path" Psalm 119:105

Key #5: Practice


Once I had faith in my dad's teaching method and trusted his instruction, the real work began—hours of practice on those peach orchard roads. Day after day, I'd grind gears, stall the engine, and lurch forward until smooth shifting became second nature. This is sanctification—the daily practice of becoming who God has declared us to be.


Paul devotes Romans chapters 12-16 to this daily Christian living, offering practical instruction for responsible spiritual driving.


"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship" Romans 12:1

Just as I had to practice patience when the jeep wouldn't cooperate, kingdom living requires daily practice in patience, forgiveness, and love. If we're consistently practicing His ways, we're less likely to offer spiritual road rage to someone who cuts us off in life. It might be your pastor, after all.


Micah captures this beautifully:


"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" Micah 6:8

Key #6: Service


After years of practice on peach orchard roads, I reached "conscious competence"—I could drive safely while being aware of what I was doing.

Suddenly, my driving skills became tools for serving others.


I found myself being of service, running errands at the service station, and helping others with transportation. The keys had given me not just freedom, but responsibility to serve.


Jesus modeled this:


"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" Mark 10:45

Once we develop spiritual competence, God presents opportunities to use our kingdom skills in service. The list of opportunities is limited only by our heart's openness to love.


Isaiah recognized this servant's heart:


"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" Isaiah 6:8

Key #7: Teaching


Seven years after learning to drive with that Army jeep and receiving my driver’s license, my dad handed me the keys to a 1965 Chevy Impala Super Sport. It wasn’t new, but it was priceless!


After seven years of “practice” driving, I'd reached "unconscious competence"—I could focus more on the mission than on driving mechanics. I was rewarded for demonstrating responsibility commensurate with my freedom. 


This is when God whispers,


"You have been faithful with a little; I will put you in charge of much" Matthew 25:23

Believers, at all points in their walk with Christ, can teach others something. Now, a new believer may not have the spiritual maturity to pastor a church, but they can certainly teach others how they can be saved. They can share their testimony. No one is more “qualified” to share that good news than themselves. 


Jesus demonstrated this with His disciples:


"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" Matthew 28:19-20

Teaching others to drive spiritually is perhaps the highest honor in kingdom living—being trusted to help others discover their own divine adventure.


The Keys Are in Your Ignition


The 7 Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven are about kingdom living now and for eternity. 


Every time we awaken to God's opportunities, exercise faith in Jesus, trust His methods, study His instruction manual, practice righteousness, serve others, and teach someone else, we're turning those keys and starting the engine of kingdom living.


My earthly father trusted me with something valuable because he'd invested in preparing me responsibly. Our Heavenly Father operates no differently. He's been taking you through divine driver's education, preparing you not just for eternal destination, but for kingdom transportation right here, right now.


The question isn't whether you're ready for the keys—it's whether you recognize that in His perfect timing, through His perfect method, He's already placing them in your hands.


The road is open, the tank is full, and heaven is both the journey and the destination.


What stage of divine driver's education are you experiencing right now? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let's encourage one another in this kingdom journey.


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