Do you know the difference between being prominent and being preeminent?

I have three children, Daphne, Zane, and Scout. Compared to other kids, they are prominent. They’re my kids. I love them in a way I do not love other kids. When I take them to the playground, my eyes are chiefly on my kids, not the others. I still notice what the other kids are doing, and intervene when I see someone will be hurt, but my kids are the priority. They are prominent.

But among Daphne, Zane, and Scout, no one child is preeminent. I don’t have a favorite. One is not worth more to me than the others. I love them all.

By contrast, I have one wife, Abby. She’s the one for me. There’s no other woman. We’re a one-flesh union until death. She is the preeminent woman in my life.

Do you see the difference?

Prominent means you are important. Preeminent means you surpass all others.

Now, what about Jesus? Is He preeminent in your life, or merely prominent?

For many nominal Christians, Jesus is just one part of a cultural identity. He’s a prominent figure, certainly. He’s important enough that you go to church on Sundays, say your prayers, and plan to be married by a minister. But you have other priorities, too: football games, Masonic meetings, “me time,” Jesus shares that prominent role with other important influences.

By contrast, for Paul, Christ was preeminent.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).

Paul did not add Christ as another element to his life. Rather, Christ was his Life! Paul had a new life, Christ in Him.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal 2:20).

John saw it, too. Jesus was not just an important figure in life. Jesus is Life itself:

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men (John 1:4).

“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25a).

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6a).

Is Jesus your life? If He is, that should radically change your perception of what it means to live the Christian life. Everything will center on Him, and Him alone. “All things are about Christ, focus on Christ, and for the glory of Christ” (Jerry Benjamin, Simply Singular, p. 6).

Can that be said about you?

Is your life about Christ?

Is it focused on Christ?

Do you live it for the glory of Christ?

In other words, when you think of your life is Jesus preeminent or merely prominent?