Lord of All?

"Nope.  He is not MY Lord!" some will say.  At least for now.

Let's define the term.  I like Thesaurus.com for this kind of thing.  For each of the many definitions a word typically has, this site offers a list of synonyms.  We will look at some of the common uses of the word "lord", compare their meanings, and then see how they might apply to Jesus Christ.

1)  "Right away my Lord," said the Queen, when her husband beckoned.  The lord is the master.

By her own volition, the long ago Princess vowed to honor the King with her loyal submission, when she married him.  She knew what the rules were and how things might play out for her future, and she took the leap.  Perhaps when they are alone, her wisdom and prudence guides his decision making, but at least in the courts, she surrenders her own will for the sake of the kingdom.

2)  Sir Henry inherited the Baskerville estate and intended his time as Lord of the manor to be good for all the people on the desolate moor.  The lord is a person in charge.

My research (having recently read The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle) taught me that the head of a large family estate in the old English countryside may have held considerable sway over the community.  Not so much because of any official governmental authority, but by the decisions he made with his money.  He would either spend his funds hiring many local people in keeping and improving his house and lands, or he would abandon all responsibility and squander his wealth selfishly.

3)  "At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."  The lord is a supernatural being worshiped by people.

As the one and only, ultimate, "supernatural being" (notice that the best way we can describe God is by saying he is a "super" one of us?), God should be recognized as Lord, in at least as much as He is both a master, and a person in charge.  But being the one who even created all things "natural" (both the visible and invisible, the Bible tells us) He is way more "lordy" than any simple template of a lord we have ever known.  Yet in Isaiah 29:16 we see reference to how we made-of-clay people rebel against this Lord.

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”?

4) The most personal, and the most important decision you or I will ever make relates to lordship.  Some one or some thing will have and keep your attention all of your life.  It might be a spouse or a lover, or some political or sports hero.  It may be a hobby or important task that holds your devotion.  Most likely, the object of your undying support is...you.  Only one person ever born was not absolutely self centered, and it wasn't me or you.  While Jesus even gave up His throne in heaven to be born as a human baby, only to lay down his life for us, we resist, and refuse to give up our petty dreams and even acknowledge that He is both Lord and God.  This Lord is the master, in charge, and the supernatural being worthy of our worship.

 Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 
 
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 20:27,28



PS  At the top of this post I noted that "at least for now" some will deny the Lordship of Christ.  But Romans 14:11 reveals in the New Testament, quoting the Old, that

It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

Far better to make the free choice now, than to wait and make the grudging (and vain) admission later.






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