It is truly amazing how you can see something every day, but at the same time, not really see it at all. The chief example of this in our lives is the sun. The sun marches across the sky every day and lightens our world and enables us to see. And yet, if we are being honest, how little attention do we actually give to that massive ball of gas that brings light and heat to our planet? 

The greatest source of power in our solar system is the sun. Its diameter is 865,000 miles, which is 109 times larger than planet Earth. It contains 75% hydrogen, over 20% helium, and the other 5% is made up of more than 70 distinct elements. Its heat and light are the product of a constant nuclear reaction that takes place at its core. Scientists estimate (an estimate is the best we can do) that the sun’s surface is 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit with its core reaching 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. Its average distance from the earth is 93 million miles. So, when light leaves the surface of the sun traveling at a speed of 186,000 miles a second, it takes eight minutes and twenty seconds for it to reach Southlake, TX, home of Countryside Bible Church where I pastor. 

The sun absolutely dominates our solar system. In fact, 99.8% of the mass of our solar system is the sun. And yet, remarkably, for more than a thousand years, Ptolemy and his disciples taught that the sun actually revolves around the earth and that the earth is the center, not only of the solar system, but of the entire universe. Then, Copernicus showed up and sparked a revolution by creating a model of the universe with the sun at its center. You see, the true center of the solar system remained completely unchanged. However, our understanding of the center was radically and permanently altered.

It would be appropriate to say that today’s Christian church has forgotten its center. It, too, needs a Copernican revolution. Meaning, the church must come to understand that everything revolves around the center: our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the center of everything!

The concept of an absolute sovereign Lord has always been difficult for Americans to fully grasp, because as a nation we have always resisted the idea of someone ruling over us. In fact, one of the slogans of the Revolutionary War was “We serve no sovereign here.” However, the problem reaches far deeper than our political positions. As fallen sinners, each one of us resents and resists the rule of Jesus Christ in our lives—by nature, this is who we are. The psalmist puts it this way: “Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed [Jesus], saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us” (Ps. 2:1–3)! The psalmist provides a clear picture of human rebellion against the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In our current technological and digital age, that type of behavior not only saturates every newspaper, but every website, social media platform, and personal devices. Nevertheless, in the midst of such rebellion, Jesus Christ is still Lord!

The New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as Lord on a number of occasions:

• Luke 2:11, “…for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
• Acts 2:36, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
• Acts 10:36, “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)…”
• 1 Corinthians 8:6, “…yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”

It is common practice in some Christian circles to refer to making Jesus Lord. Of course, I understand the sentiment and what they mean by such language. However, in reality, it is an imprecise way of speaking about Jesus as Lord.

Simply stated, no one makes Jesus Lord; He is Lord.

And because He is Lord, you must either acknowledge His right to rule you, or continue in your rebellion against Him. Regardless, He simply remains Lord, and is unaffected by what you think and how you respond. In fact, Lord is the title and position that He owns by right because He is God. Moreover, it is this title and position that God the Father gave Him as a reward for His earthly obedience (Phil. 2:5–11). 

In the coming days we will consider the biblical truth that Jesus is Lord and the implications that such a reality has for believers.