When I was a teenager I listened to a lot of rock music, and I still love the electric guitar and an awesome rock beat. When I first started listening to Christian music I had a hard time finding good Christian rock. It seemed to almost be an oxymoron. The great Christian rock bands that I now listen to were just getting started and their music wasn’t easy to find.
One such band is Audio Adrenaline who, unfortunately, are no longer recording. I actually saw them live during their last concert tour. During that tour they announced it was their last because of throat and vocal cord problems the lead singer was experiencing.
One of my favorite songs of theirs is called “I’m not the king.” Humans have a tendency to want to be in control, to be king (or queen) of something. It might be as head of a big corporation, or merely our own destiny. Some dictators do whatever it takes to retain power of a nation. Others wield power within their family units or within their chosen profession. But whatever it is we are trying to maintain control over, that control is ultimately an illusion. We are not really the king of anything. The singer of Audio Adrenaline recognizes this in the song:
The king of rock, some say lives
The lizard king is surely dead
The king of France lost his head
The King of kings bled
I’m not the King I just sing yeah
I’m just a fraction of a thing yeah
I am not anything without the King of kings
We are nothing without the King of kings, Jesus Christ, in our lives. I’m not the king of this blog. What I write here is of no consequence unless I seek to be led by the Holy Spirit and to glorify the King of kings. I’m not the king of this blog, I just write, hoping that the King will be pleased.
But why is it that I can’t be king? God created me with talent and intelligence. I have the ability to make decisions and to decide what to write. I am the one who hits the “Publish” button each day. Surely I can be in control of at least this small part of the world and not mess it up. Can’t I? Perhaps not.
If I were King I’d be unwise
For my brains aren’t King size
A King’s someone to trust and love
Like Jesus Christ whom I sing of
On my own, I do not have the wisdom to rule even this tiny blog. I do not have the power to save anyone. You cannot trust in me for your salvation and I have done nothing to deserve your love and admiration. All I can do is point you to the King of kings, who can save you and more. He is someone you can trust and love. He is Jesus Christ, whom I write of.
Do you have some kingdom you are trying to rule on your own? Are you finding that isn’t working out so well for you? Is there revolt in the streets or on the factory floor? Do things seem to be spinning out of control? The King of kings is there for you; you can ask Him to take control of your little kingdom and He will gladly rule it wisely and with love.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:11-16 (NIV).