by Lindsay Christerson
“[Jesus Christ] 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 6:15-16 ESV
kyrieúō (Greek) to rule: have dominion over, lord, be lord of, exercise lordship over.
au·thor·i·ty /əˈTHôrədē/
1.the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
How do those words sit with you? What do you feel in your body when you read the words “dominion over,” “be lord of,” “exercise lordship over,” and “enforce obedience”?
When I look at the words that Paul wrote to Timothy, I see Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is transcendent—wholly different than me—and to HIM belongs authority and lordship over my life. But what does that mean? What does it look like for me to cognitively, emotionally, and practically submit to Jesus’s authority over my life— both broadly and also in every moment of every day?
I can only speak for myself, but my flesh recoils at the idea of giving someone that kind of lordship or authority over my life. I can feel an instinct to rebel against anything that demands obedience. It may be my distance from the idea of a monarchy—paying allegiance to a King whose character, flaws, and decisions have an impact on my life is daunting. In human history, when we think of a leader who controls his people and “enforces obedience,” we think of a dictator because absolute power in the hands of a human has never resulted in a utopia.
In the 21st century we are increasingly focused on personal autonomy [the right or condition of self-government: freedom from external control or influence]. Our society believes personal freedom means lack of external control, and self-regulating should be based on our inner truth—quite anti-authoritarian. Maybe that’s extreme, but how often do you use or hear the phrases (explicit or implied):
“You do you.”
“You have to be true to yourself.”
“Do what makes you happy! (As long as you don’t hurt anyone.)”
“Live your truth.”
These concepts are imbedded into our everyday life and are hyper-individualistic. Any sense of authority or rules can be bent or broken for the sake of these core truths.
“…and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” — Judges 21:25b ESV
But before we go too far down the rabbit hole of blaming social media and Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha, consider the first generation—Adam and Eve. Eve had communion with the God and was in perfect relationship to Adam. There was no one to compare her gifts or privileges to, nor was there a tyrant or dictator to color her perception of authority in a negative way. And yet, upon the mere suggestion that God was withholding something from her—that maybe his command wasn’t for her good, and that maybe His character can’t be trusted—she rebelled. She took what she thought was being withheld from her and rejected God’s authority over the one boundary that he gave them. She did what was right in her own eyes, and every subsequent generation has followed in her footsteps.
Here is the rub: we are made for authority. God made us for himself—to love us and for us to freely love him back. We were created to be in relationship with our Lord who uses his authority to shape and guide our lives so that we can flourish. When we rebel against his authority and give ourselves ultimate autonomy, we find out that we are not suited for the job. We cannot in and of ourselves find meaning, purpose, and value. We have to look to something or someone else to tell us who we are and what we should do or be. We look for a new “lord.” One that we think is better or suits our ideas of comfort, happiness, or status. Perhaps, one that we think we can control and won’t try to control us. We find a community that aligns with our interests, hobbies, vocation, health habits or political ideals to pour our time and identity into. We shape our lives around what these communities value and give them authority. We let creatures dictate what is good and lovely and pure instead of the Creator. We let our flawed idols normalize our flaws and our sinful lords normalize our sin. But their authority does not lead to soul flourishing; it leads to bondage. A false lord always offers a false gospel.
But, the King of kings and Lord of lords saw our enslaved hearts with all of the sin and death that held us in its grip because of our wayward allegiance and was moved with compassion. Though he had the right to reject and despise us, he set down his glory and crown to enter in and break the hold that our lesser lords had on us.
He had to come. Our earthly examples of authority have always failed us. They are all hopelessly flawed and have damaged our hearts for this idea of lordship. There has been no king, emperor, ruler, president, nor authority that has deserved our full trust, allegiance, and obedience. Only one man has ever deserved it, and he came as a servant. A lowly carpenter and nomad. He held no court, wore no fine clothes or jewels, commanded no fleets or armies, but he deserved every human heart’s allegiance and each person’s heart is safe in his hands.
So, what’s a girl to do to give Jesus lordship over her life? In his kindness, He drove this point home for me this past week. While I was journaling, trying to “cast my cares upon him,” I was telling him that I want what He wants for certain areas of my life that are out of my control. I was literally studying this idea of lordship in preparation to write about it and someone “triggered” this situation in my heart. I told the Father I want what he wants, that I don’t want to go somewhere he doesn’t have for me and asked him to lead me. Not two hours later, my desired outcome was “threatened.” Someone might stand in the way of what I want and I felt my first instinct to start taking control of the situation to make my desired outcome happen. I sensed in my spirit the Lord saying, “Do you really want what I want for this? Am I really the Author of your story? Do you really want me to be Lord of your life?” I had to wrestle with the Lord. I didn’t understand, and I still don’t know the outcome, but I after pushing and pulling in my heart, I could lay my hold on it back down, and remember that I wasn’t in charge of it anyway. I really do want to go where he leads and want what he wants.
When we feel that rebellious streak rise up to be the author of our own story, when we feel like we owe our allegiance to something or someone other than Christ, when we question if He has our good in mind, we have to remember who He is. He is the King over all kings, who grants all authority, knows all things, and who is the only authority who we can truly trust is good all the time. We give him lordship over our lives— one little obedience at a time.
