The Earth Is The Lord’s

The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. 

Psalm 24:1 

Who owns the earth? According to our text, Christ does. How can we be so sure it is Christ in view? Our text answers that question. It says, ‘He has founded it….’ The rest of Scripture points to Christ as the Creator. John articulates it when he says, ‘all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.’ The writer of Hebrews refers to it, by speaking of Christ as the One through Whom God made the world. These references and others like them lead us to the inevitable conclusion that Christ owns the world and everything in it.  This is a far-reaching conclusion. If the earth is Christ’s then those who dwell therein are His as well. Thus, we are His, whether we acknowledge it or not. We can live in harmony with this or at odds with it. If we acknowledge that Christ is the owner of the world and therefore our Lord, our life will be quite different than if we do not. We will be with the owner or against Him. We will side with Him or refuse to accept His rightful ownership. It is important for us to recognize that this is the reality of the situation. Otherwise we operate with an unrealistic view of who has the right to give orders and set expectations. If we understand that the earth and all within it is Christ’s everything begins to look different.  

High King of Heaven, 
we rejoice that You have created the world,  
and those of us who live in it. 
We praise You that You order all things  
over the counsel of Your Own will. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning