Michigan Wolverines quarterback Alex Orji (#10) led his team to a 27-24 victory over the University of Southern California on Saturday. He used the victory as an opportunity to speak about his Christian faith and proclaim that “Jesus is King.”
The 20-year-old gave his remarks in a post-game press conference.
“The confidence that I got from the coaches and the players alike was huge,” Orji said, before pointing to his hat, which read: “JESUS IS KING.”
“That’s everything to me,” Orji shared, “That’s everything.”
“The confidence that I get from the man above is second to none. I can’t tell you all enough how much [confidence I gain] every time I’m reading my Bible,” Orji said. He then joked, “I’m in Psalms right now, and Psalms is long if you all don’t know.”
Orji continued:
I’m reading Psalms right now and everything that I’m reading and I’m hearing from my parents and from my people is being re-instilled in me and it’s a confidence that I’m getting from the man above…
We just got to keep trusting in God and trusting in each other. I think that nearness to God makes you fearless in life.
Orji recently took over as the Wolverines’ starting quarterback from Davis Warren.
The 6-foot-3 college junior didn’t have the best game on Saturday – he completed 7 of 12 passes for 32 yards, the fewest in a University of Michigan victory since 1987. But his ability to protect the football allowed the Wolverines to run the ball – and ultimately triumph over USC.
As Christians, we know by faith that Jesus is king. In Revelation, we find the heavens opened and Jesus riding on a white horse.
“He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. … On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:13, 16, ESV).
The fact of Jesus’ kingship raises an obvious question for Christians today. If Christ established His kingdom while on earth, why is it so difficult for us to see His power manifested and realized?
Why are there still wars, diseases, famines, droughts and devastating natural disasters?
Why are there still abortions, murders, suicides, drug overdoses and terrible car accidents?
If Christ is king now, why is there still so much evil in the world?
Because, while Christ’s kingdom is here now, it is not yet fulfilled.
During his 33 years on earth, Christ came to establish and inaugurate his kingdom. As Jesus says in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (ESV). But His kingdom has not yet reached its culmination – it will when He returns again.
In his book Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters, prominent Anglican theologian N.T. Wright declares,
[Too often] we want a “religious” leader, not a king! We want someone to save our souls, not rule our world!
Jesus … remains hugely important in every area, not only in personal life, but also in political life, not only in “religion” or “spirituality,” but also in such spheres of human endeavor as worldview, culture, justice, beauty, ecology, friendship, scholarship, and sex…
Throughout his short public career Jesus spoke and acted as if he was in charge. … He behaved as if he had the right, and even the duty, to take over, to sort things out, to make his country and perhaps even the wider world a different place.
Christ indeed is king. So why hasn’t He yet returned? Why is He still permitting such suffering, sin and evil?
The answer is found in Scripture.
We await Christ’s triumphal return to judge the living and the dead. In the meantime, Christ desires as many people as possible to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). The Lord’s patience is directed towards our salvation.
“And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him” (2 Peter 3:15, ESV).
Christians often refer to Jesus as their “personal Lord and Savior.” This is, undoubtedly, a good and true thing!
However, we must never privatize Jesus as if His claim to Lordship only extends so far, and then no farther.
All things belong to Christ. All things will be judged by Him. And all things will be made right by Him.
In that vein, I encourage you to reflect on the hymn “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” a hopeful song written by Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring in 1851. Pray on its lyrics and remember that in every part of life, Jesus Christ is Lord.
“Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.
“Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing
who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die.”
To learn more about the Christian faith, check out C.S. Lewis’ classic Mere Christianity. You can also listen to Focus on the Family’s award winning Radio Theater: C.S. Lewis at War.
If you want to better understand the Bible and be part of God’s redemptive mission, check out RVL Discipleship: The Study.
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