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Apr 09, 2025 06:00am

Every Knee Will Bow

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A group signed up for a skydiving adventure. They were ready for the thrill of their life! The instructors went over all the necessary rules and precautions, and the participants strapped on their parachutes.

All except one.

The instructor demanded that he put on the parachute. “You’ll die. This is the only way you can be saved!”

But the man refused.

“I don’t recognize the law of gravity, and I don’t believe in it. Therefore, it has no authority over me. I choose to jump without a parachute.”

How absurd does this sound?

Of course, gravity exists! This man was going to jump to his death because he didn’t “recognize the authority” of gravity.

He’s not alone.

There are people all over the world who have a similar absurd notion.

Romans 14:10-13
“So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

11 For the Scriptures say,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to Me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”

12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.

13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”

Tucked away in this passage about Christians not judging one another in their growth but instead encouraging one another and teaching each other by example and love, there is this incredible statement that comes from Isaiah:

Every knee will bow to the Lord.
Every tongue will confess to God.

Paul was instructing the believers in Rome on how to live the Christian life. There were some who were “stronger” in the faith and exuded wisdom, while there were “weaker” Christians who might have been new believers or long-time believers who hadn’t grown. He instructed them not to judge one another in their growth and standing as a believer but to encourage one another.

Why?

Because we all grow at different rates. And God uses our circumstances in life to test, stretch, and deepen our faith. If this were a race, we wouldn’t all start at the same time. And we don’t have the same obstacles in our path.

Again, we ask, why?

Because God uses us all in different ways. The way He chooses to use you is different from how He will use me. We are gifted in different ways, we have different careers, hobbies, and opportunities—all because God can use those for His glory.

But there is one thing that can be said of all of us. We will all stand before our Holy God. He is the King. He is Lord. He has all authority in Heaven and Earth.

We will ALL bow before Him. We will all confess to Him.

No matter whether we recognize His authority or not.

Can you imagine being brought before God, the Creator of the Universe who knows every single thing about you, and denying that He has authority over you?

Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess.

And what you choose today will determine your judgment then.

If you choose to ignore His authority and deny Jesus Christ as your Lord, He will deny you. You will be judged for your sins and eternally separated from God and all things good. Hell is real. It’s a place of pain and suffering for eternity.

But if you choose to believe in Jesus Christ, accept His offer of forgiveness, and recognize His authority and Lordship over your life, He will stand with you before God. Your debt will be paid in full. And when you bow before the King, you’ll do so as a forgiven, redeemed, and accepted child of God. Your eternity will be in Heaven with the Father.

If you’ve never done that, I’d like to invite you today to take that step. Do you feel it? Deep within, there’s this guilt, shame, and tightening that feels like it won’t release. There’s conviction. You see yourself and your sin for what it really is. This is the moment. This is the Holy Spirit calling you.

Confess your sins to the Lord. Ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him to become the Lord of your life. And then choose to follow Him.

Let me show you how. Go to follow.lifeword.org.

Today, recognize the truth and authority of Christ.

It’s the only way to be saved.