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We were momentarily caught up on the farm. It would be a week or more before the wheat was ready to harvest, so my husband and I took the opportunity for a quick getaway.

Our son and daughter-in-law had given us gift certificates for Christmas with a note to relax and have fun. One was for a historic bed-and-breakfast, and the other was for one of our long-time favorite restaurants in Chattanooga.

These getaways for just the two of us are rare. There are plenty of reasons … excuses. Funny how I remember confronting my husband as a newlywed, “The farm is a good excuse for anything (you don’t want to do), isn’t it!”

Of course, there really is much work to be done on a farm, but I was referring to the all-too-convenient excuse it seemed to provide to avoid/decline certain invitations.

Anyway, with grown kids on hand to keep things in check, we spontaneously packed a bag and headed out.

We arrived at the designated check-in time. A young woman at the desk of the inn went over paperwork points with us, then handed us a gold key attached to a big round gold metal keychain with our room number engraved on it.

It had been a while since we’d been handed a real “old-fashioned” key when traveling. You know, most places use key cards or key codes these days.

Next, the innkeeper stressed the importance of keeping up with the key, noting the door to our cottage room would automatically lock upon exit.

Furthermore, the office was only open during daytime hours. If we lost the key or accidentally left it in our room, we’d have to call the manager who lived nearly an hour away.

Wow, this little getaway was starting with not only some nostalgia, but some pressure, it seemed. Yep, we were given only one key.

So we heeded her warning, joking each time either of us headed out the door, making sure we knew who had the key. When we checked out, we placed the key on the counter – returning it with a mixture of pride and relief.

This experience and the responsibility attached to that golden key reminded me of what scripture refers to as “keys to the kingdom of heaven.”

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

In thinking about those words of Jesus, I found an article written by a Bible teacher explaining, in general, that keys signify three things: access, authority and insight.

“The key that gives us access to the kingdom of heaven is recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah. The word ‘Messiah’ here means the anointed one who came to redeem the world. When you recognize Jesus is the one anointed to redeem you from your sins, and you put your complete trust in him, then you gain access to the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is open to you because Jesus is the key to entering the kingdom of heaven, as he said in John 14: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ”

The teacher added, “With access to the kingdom, there also comes access to kingdom resources that are available to address your earthly situations. This means the kingdom of heaven is ready to assist in every aspect of your life, and you have been granted access to this because of Jesus Christ.

“The second thing about the keys is they give authority to others to enter heaven. Does this mean we stand as judges over people? Absolutely not. However, we have the authority to go and proclaim Jesus is the Messiah, which will allow people to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is what the Great Commission is all about. Jesus giving us the right to go make disciples of all nations. This authority was not just given to Peter, but to all believers.”

Thirdly, “when you access the kingdom of God with the keys he has given us, then you also unlock the wisdom and insight of God. With this insight, you can see life from God’s perspective because this is not insight that comes from Earth, but divine insight that comes from heaven through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I’m thankful for our little getaway, but I’m especially thankful for that key. Above all, no matter how busy we are, may we not find excuses to decline our father’s invitation given through Jesus to be adopted into the family of God for all time.

And may we realize how truly precious the golden key is that we’ve been given – using it not just for ourselves, but for anyone who wants to enter God’s kingdom.

Gina Moore, a news-editorial journalism major, has operated Marketplace Consignment Sale for 29 years and has worked part-time at Treasures. She also enjoys country cooking, reading and writing about motherhood, life on the farm and how God’s love and lessons surround residents.