Thankfully, as believers, we know that God is sovereign, and we can be sure of this through Scripture. Again and again the Bible tells us God is ultimately in control and that He permits, allows, and orchestrates events for both His own glory and the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Psalm 115:3, Prov 19:21, Job 42:2, Isa 46:10, Rom 8:28, etc.)

As we close out our verse-by-verse journey through Ephesians 1, we’re reminded again Christ is sovereign over all things:

These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:19-23 NASB

Paul’s statement is astonishing, profound, and yet beautifully simple. God the Father set God the Son far above ALL rule and authority and power and dominion. Not just slightly above, but far above it (Greek: περá½±νω “huperanoÌ„”, which means very high or superior). Quite literally, all rulers and powers on earth and in the spiritual world are subject to God the Son by the authority given to Him from God the Father, Who sits on the throne over all creation.

Not only is Christ above all, but the Father also put all things in subjection to Him, including each of us. So, while most of the world chooses not to obey this divine subjection, Christians willingly and cheerfully submit to it because we understand Christ’s place. While the world bucks and wrenches against Christ as sovereign ruler, we find our solace, peace, and calm in the storm within our submission because He is a good Shepherd and a kind, loving Master Who gave Himself up for our benefit (cf: John 10:11).

The world today is pretty crazy, and honestly it seems to be getting worse every day. But you know what? God is still in control! The Son still sits high above all other rule and authority. Let that sink in for a moment and bask in the delight knowing the war has already been won (see Rev 21:6)!

Why Christ sovereignly allows certain things to happen is far beyond our veiled ability to understand, but we must still trust Him and His perfectly righteous character. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa 55:8-9

We must never put ourselves in Christ’s place and judge His decisions because we simply don’t see it all, and this is where our faith steps in. Trusting that He is good, holy, righteous, and that He loves us so deeply that He would freely give Himself for us solidifies our faith, believing that no matter what, we are His, and nothing, not even the most seemingly powerful person or government or evil spirt can ever separate us from Him.

Let’s close with Romans 8:37-39, which I pray will encourage and strengthen us as we lean fully on Him for our salvation, sanctification, and eternal protection.

But in all these things [persecution, famine, distress, and peril] we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.