He who sits in the heavens laughs... It's been a little over a year since I first launched this site. With this anniversary-of-sorts I'm pleased to have a long-desired facelift(1) to the homepage and facebook profile for this venue that makes up a part of my ministry to the body of Christ. The main thrust of this ministry is to advocate or to teach to the body of Christ that God's Word is applicable in all areas of life, whether personal, social, political, or anything else. God has standards for every area of life. And He works through His children to accomplish those changes (Phil. 2:13). The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is Lord not just over the church (Eph. 1:22-23), but also society (Ps. 2) - and that He has concern not just for our salvation and prayer life but also for our life when it comes to interpersonal relationships, education, work, leisure time, entertainment, social obligations, political activity, and all the rest. To all of the world (the elect and the reprobate) He is the supreme ruler and the most sovereign potentate (Ps.2:1-12; Dan. 4:34-35), to whom everyone (whether believer or not) owes allegiance, submission, and glory (Ps. 66:1-4; Dan. 6:25-27, 7:13-14). To the redeemed community He is not only Savior from our sinful nature in all of these things (Rom. 3:21-26, 4:1-8, 5:1ff), but He is also Lord over our new nature in all of these things (Rom. 6:1, 6; Eph. 4:17-24). He is more than Lord in our spiritual lives, and He is more than Lord to only the redeemed community. To put it simply - He is Lord over all people, over all time, over all of life. So the acronym of the website and ministry is quite simply: LoL Lord over Life Obviously this acronym also has the very popular meaning: laugh out loud. This makes me smile. This is an entirely appropriate double meaning and a useful way to understand this ministry. The reason I find it appropriate is because of God's sovereign reign described in Psalm 2. If you're not familiar with that Psalm, I recommend you read it here (don't worry, it's a short Psalm). Basically, even when the world is using all their strength to separate themselves from the reign of God (and "His Anointed" literally, "His Messiah (or Christ)" - Jesus): "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." (Ps. 2:3), what is God's response? He laughs at their vain attempts: "He who sits in the heavens laughs" (Ps. 2:4). The same Lord who sits in the heavens and "does whatever he pleases" (Ps. 115:3, 135:6), laughs at the mightiest of men when they think they can thwart Him or His plans (Ps. 37:13, 59:8; cf. Dan. 4:34-35). Not only does He laugh at the opposition, but He laughs in joy as He brings salvation to His people. He says to Jesus, "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession." (Ps. 2:8). This is a great testimony to the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. I assure you that after His resurrection Jesus did not forget to ask. He asked the Father, and the Father is making the nations His heritage and the ends of the earth His possession - even now. That is why in the Great Commission, Jesus starts with the preamble that "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Mt. 28:18). Therefore, make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:19-20). Jesus will have ultimate victory: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever" (Rev. 11:15, see also Ps. 110:1; Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:14; Mt. 28:18; 1 Cor. 15:24-25). That victory, however, comes not by physical war, but by spiritual war and the victory of the gospel (Isa. 11:9; Hab. 2:14; Zech. 4:6; 2 Cor. 4:6, 10:4-5). And that is why the Lord laughs. Though Satan and rebellious men (whether reprobate or yet unconverted) try to cast off the Lord from them. He has declared Jesus Christ as Lord over all (Phil. 2:9-11) and Savior to all who trust in Him (Rom. 10:13; see Ps. 2:12: "Blessed are all who take refuge in Him"). Of course, being the Lord over all of life means that all of life should be lived under His Lordship. As believers we know this can only be achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:10-11, 26-27; 1 Cor. 2:11-13; 2 Cor. 3:18). All the more why we rely on Him to change minds and transform hearts as we carry out the great commission of discipling the nations. Yet that is our call - to disciple the nations! The nations - governments, societies, cultures, individuals in each and all of these realms - all are to be called to repentance, called to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and called to live under His Lordship. In going about the work of the great commission there will certainly be challenges and hardships (Jn. 15:20, 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12). But we have the sure and steadfast promise that not even the gates of hell shall stop the Lord from accomplishing His great commission through His work of the church (Mt. 16:18; Eph. 3:20-21). Let us laugh then with Him and go forth in His strength, resting on His promises. He laughs out loud, precisely because He is Lord over life! (Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6; Dan. 2:21, 4:34-35; Ps. 34:18; Rom. 9:15-18, 10:11-13). No opposition can stop Him (Dan. 4:34-35). He will have complete victory over the world and save to the uttermost all who trust in Him (Heb. 7:25) - through the glorious preaching of His precious gospel (2 Cor. 4:6) and the building up of His church (Eph. 4:15-16). (1) Many thanks to my sister-in-law for creating the beautiful images for this project! :)
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