King Of My Life I Crown Thee Now

Why evil exists is one of the mysteries of our faith. Sometimes evil is welcomed when people choose to do something forbidden or enjoy perversity, but often evil appears as a temptation we don’t seek, and we succumb to it. During the Covid-19 era we sometimes wished we could see the virus and know when to flee. It would be good to visualize evil and know when to flee it, too.

Because evil exists, Christians sometimes do unchristian things.

Such was the case in the ancient church in Corinth, the most problem ridden church in the New Testament. Paul wrote to correct their theology and practice. He explained basic theology as part of his corrective.

Paul said the “natural” man is one who does not have the Spirit of God. This person could be actively engaged in war with God, or might be seeking God, though in the wrong way. Humanity sometimes seeks God by trying to do good things, believing eternal judgment is a balance scale with good works outweighing bad works. But scripture is clear that good works do not earn salvation (Titus 3:5).

In each life there is a control center or “throne.” The natural man can be understood as a person with self on the throne of life.

But the Corinthians, whom Paul called “brothers and sisters,” were believers who did unspiritual things. He called them “carnal” or “worldly” and “babies in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1). These can be understood as believers with Christ in their lives, but who have returned self to the throne.

The “spiritual” man can then be identified as the person who rightly enthrones Christ and subjugates self in humble service to him.

Americans don’t entertain royalty, but if we did, Jackie Kennedy might be on our list. But British Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, decamped to the U.S. in 2020. Harry hasn’t abdicated the crown and yet remains fifth in order of succession to the throne of England.

However, Edward VIII, who became king of England in 1936, did abdicate his throne. He fell in love with an American divorcee, and the court persuaded him that marriage was unwise. He chose to marry the woman he loved and voluntarily gave the throne to his brother, George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth. Edward then became the Duke of Windsor without succession to the throne.

Christians declare Jesus their Lord in order to be converted but find that “self” is relentless in seeking the throne. Thus, every day must be a fresh day of surrender to the sovereignty of Christ.

An old hymn, written in 1921, exhorts, “King of my life I crown Thee now.” -30-

“Reflections” is a weekly faith column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of the Siluria Baptist Church, Alabaster, Alabama. The church’s website is siluriabaptist.com.