A firm foundation

 

Most Christians would say that God is sovereign yet often we respond to life as if He is not in charge. Perhaps this is why His Word is filled with reminders that He is all powerful and His DOMINION endures forever.

Yesterday a conversation prompted me to read Psalm 2 over the phone. The caller was rightfully indignant at decisions and actions in the world that make no sense. We agree that the Lord wants us to stand against injustice yet I felt compelled to repeat the reminder that God is in charge and “laughs at” the plans of leaders who defy Him. His dominion overwhelms all other rulers and authorities. We can voice the injustices we see yet that truth needs to be a solid foundation under our protests. The dominion of God gives our call for justice the credibility needed to keep our hearts from despair, not just at the injustice we see but when our prayers, cries and actions seem futile.

Dominion can mean — dominance, power, or sovereignty through legal authority such as the dominion given to kings and other authorities. Ultimately though, all dominion is under the realm of God’s rule. Dominion can be about that or about obedience given to His rule . . .

Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psalm 103:20–22)

Disobedience to it or being oblivious to God’s sovereignty does not change the fact of it no more than a speeding motorist changes the law concerning speed limits. This is black or white, yes or no, never partly, or in only some areas. God rules, period.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. (Psalm 145:13)

How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:3)

How does His rule play itself out? Looking at Jesus is always a good way to answer questions about God. Jesus set aside His right of dominion, became a servant and died for the sin of the world. Doesn’t sound much like a sovereign God — yet that is not the end of the story:

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (Romans 6:9)

Death did not and does not dominate Jesus Christ or in any way exercise control over Him. He mastered death; death did not and cannot master Him. He is the author of life. He is life itself. When He returns, He will display the reality of His dominion. Even though we may not see it at this time, “He will display (it) at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:14–16)

For that reason, Christians declare His controlling power to direct and determine, to govern. We submit to His rule over our lives because we understand that . . .  

Jesus Christ (is) the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5–6)

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Why is this important? Because it changes the way I live. It gives me endurance and the promise of heaven. Because Jesus lives in me, it also gives me power over sin and the ability to stand against the evil one, whether he is attacking me or enticing people around me to defy God. I want to be: “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1:9–12) I also want this: “sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14) and to be “strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might, putting on the whole armor of God, that I may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10–11) Thank God that His dominion is my victory!