In a video, J. John described an experience he had when getting his hair cut. His hairdresser had a rabbit’s foot on her keychain. He asked her why she had it. “It brings me luck.” In response, he stated: “The rabbit wasn’t lucky. How can an unlucky rabbit bring you any luck?” 

He later asked a taxi driver why he had a horseshoe and a cross hanging from his rear-view mirror. “I don’t know,” came the reply. “I just want to cover all my bases.”*

In this context, when someone is ‘covering their bases’ it is an admission that they’re not sure what’s true. They want something from a higher power—blessing, wisdom, protection, or something else—but they’re not sure what or who that higher power is.

The New Testament is clear that Jesus is supreme. One of the many places this is explained is in Colossians 1:15-19. He is described as “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” All things were created in him and for him. He is to have “the supremacy.” God was pleased “to have all his fullness dwell in him.”

When thinking about the implications of this, three words come to mind: Supremacy, sufficiency, and security. If I doubt that Jesus is supreme, then I will also doubt that he is sufficient. As a result, I’m going to try to supplement my faith with things that are not from him. Perhaps I’ll start to import practices or beliefs from other religions, or obsess over horoscopes, or develop superstitions, or dabble in the occult, or even place too great a value on the opinions of public figures. All of this shows that I’m not “secure” in Christ.

But if I trust the supremacy of Jesus, I also know that he is sufficient. In addition, I will be secure—which is another way of saying that I will have greater peace and confidence in him.

Think about how much God loves us. He came to us personally in Jesus. The highest authority possible got close—and is close—in Jesus. He journeys alongside us, teaches us, encourages us, corrects us, forgives us, and even sacrifices himself for us.

Why would we want to “cover our bases” with anything or anyone else?

“God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things…” (verses 19).

Supremacy. Sufficiency. Security.

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Notes:

–“The Supremacy, Sufficiency and Security of Christ.” Sermon. April 28, 2024. Click here.

–*As per an Instagram story from @jjohnglobal, posted in April 2024.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.