What does it mean that Jesus gave us the keys to the Kingdome?

The Kingdome was the stadium that opened in 1976 in King County, Washington, to host the Seahawks, Mariners, SuperSonics, and Sounders—Seattle's four major professional sports teams. The Sonics left in '85, and in the 90s the Seahawks and the Mariners told the city they needed their own stadiums or they'd leave.

If the Kingdome was so short-lived, why did Jesus give it to us? As a metaphor for the fallen world.

First, the busyness of the world. It housed four professional sports teams, representing how the world tries to draw us in to a busy life that takes us away from our relationship with God. The stadium area is incredibly cramped, now, but it is nice they could customize each stadium for its respective sport.

Second, the noise of life. The Kingdome was incredibly loud. That's good for confusing the Broncos's offensive line but bad for life (back when the Seahawks were in the AFC). We need quiet to hear the voice of God, to read and understand His word.

Third, it was falling apart. What could be more representative of the world today than watching the ceiling tiles of the environment and world politics fall from their rarified position above and come crashing onto the seats of the planet's spectators?

So, sadly, in March 2000, the Kingdome was imploded into a large pile of concrete rubble. Each sport now has its own stadium. Seahawks fans from Alaska to Montana to Hawaii have learned that the Kingdome was just a building made by human hands and so, like the world, subject to decay and folly, not unlike the team administration that refused to maintain an offensive line that could protect Russell Wilson and not make him flee to Denver.

Fortunately, Jesus never intended the Kingdome to be our eternal home. He only leant it to us to make us hunger for something permanent and holy (not holey), filled with peace (not pieces) and stillness (not 136 decibels of shouting by the 12th man). That's why He gave us keys to the Kingdom of God.

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