Jesus is Still in Charge
There isn't one dark alley, one busy street, one desert cave, one skyscraper where Jesus is not ruling.
The following devotion is an excerpt from a sermon preached at GraceLutheranChurch in a series following the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Over the next few weeks devotions will feature various sermons in remembrance of these attacks as well as the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The focus will be on God’s mysterious care in the midst of discomforting circumstances, unwelcome fear, and a struggle for world peace.
You can link to http://www.gracedowntown.org/pages/srmDetail.asp?id=224 and read this sermon in its entirety.
From a study of history I’m sure you know what powerful rulers did to rebels. Conspirators lost their craniums. No one has more power than the Lord Almighty. From heaven He sees all and knows all. He sees people who rebel against his Anointed One. He knows who pushes aside His authority. He knows when to put a stop to their shenanigans. The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
From a study of Psalm 2 we know that no one is going to push the Anointed One off his throne. It may look like the forces of evil are winning, but they are not, because God announced to the world, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
In the end, who wins? Herod? Caiaphas? Pilate? How about radical Muslims who persecute Christians in Indonesia and Iran? What about Lenin? Stalin? Osama bin Laden? Will any of the world rulers or terrorists win? It may look like that at times, but no! Jesus is still in charge. His power overcomes all opposition. And get this - God puts us on the winning team!
There are lots of kings and rulers mentioned in the Bible: David, Solomon, Alexander the Great (although not mentioned by name, but certainly referred to), and Caesar Augustus. Most of those kings all ruled expansive territories. Solomon pushed the boundaries of Israel down to Egypt and up to the Euphrates River. Alexander conquered territory from Greece to India. Augustus sent forces all along the north coast of Africa, then through France and across the English Channel. But all of those kings had limits on the extent of their control. Solomon couldn’t protect an Israelite who traveled beyond the Jordan River. Alexander never made it home. Augustus lost many soldiers who marched into the Black Forest of Germany.
God the Father said to his Anointed One, Jesus, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” How do we understand those words? We go to the rest of Scripture to shed light on what the psalmist wrote. The apostle Paul wrote, “God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all thing under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church” (Ephesians 1:20-22).
There isn’t one dark alley, one busy street, one desert cave, one skyscraper where Jesus is not ruling with his mighty power. We are never outside the sphere of his influence, nor will we ever be. No wonder the psalmist reminds us, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” God announced to the world, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
That means Jesus is still in charge. His presence extends over all the earth.
PRAYER: Jesus you rule. Everything. Everywhere. But you don’t rule that way I’d rule, which is why I sometimes doubt your ability, or your interest. Forgive me for fearfully and easily convincing myself that you are not in control. When my heart is trembling and I don’t know what tomorrow brings come to me and comfort me with your strength, your peace, and your promise for tomorrow. Amen.