Picking The World’s Strongest Lock

In 1818, a man by the name of Jeremiah Chubb patented an extraordinary lock called the “Detector.”  Chubb’s “Detector” locks were considered to be the strongest in the world.  What made this lock so impregnable was a unique anti-picking lever that tripped the bolt if a thief lifted any of the lock’s six levers too high.  Many tried to defeat this lock and failed.  One notorious picklock was even offered a pardon if he could crack a “Detector” lock.  After trying and failing he testified that “these locks were the most secure he had ever met with, and did not think it possible for any man to pick or open them with any false instruments whatever” (Slate.com).  Not even the master locksmiths who made the locks were able to pick it. 

One day Charles Hobbs, an American locksmith, showed up and boldly promised that he could pick the lock.  Several were intrigued by the invitation and gathered into a small room containing a vault and a “Detector” lock.  Hobbs produced a few small tools and began working on the locked vault.  After twenty-five minutes, all in the room heard a click and the Chubb lock was opened.  A man asked Hobbs to do it again.  It only took seven minutes to repeat the task.  With this, the world’s strongest lock had been beaten for the first time.

No matter how advanced locks become, it always seems like there is someone who finds a way to break in.  There are some locks, however, that no person has ever been able to open.  These aren’t physical locks but ones kept deep inside ourselves.  These are the locks hidden away in our hearts that contain terrible sins and secrets.

Even though some sins will never be let out of people’s personal vaults, this doesn’t mean they will remain secret.  Our God is not ignorant of the sins we hide or commit in secret.  As Hebrews 4:13 clearly reveals, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”  Even more terrifying is the fact that all transgressions will one day be exposed.  Luke 8:17 says, “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

A day is coming when no secrets will be locked up inside of us.  It would be incredibly wise of us to open up our sin vaults and get them cleaned out through repentance (2 Peter 3:9; Acts 2:38).  Certainly it’s better to clean out our secret vaults now than to have them opened up by God on the Judgment Day (Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Corinthians 4:5).