If we want to know what God looks like, we must look at the Son.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. In Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:15-20
This is such a loaded passage. How do you expound on that? The image of the invisible God. We can’t see God, right? We can see evidence of Him in people, creation, all kinds of things, but we can’t see Him. Paul is telling us the son is the image of God. So, if we want to know what God looks like, we must look at the Son: the epitome of love, service, and sacrifice.
Next, Paul tells us that in Him (Jesus, the Son), all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. Not only was Jesus the avenue through which things were created, but things were also created for Him? Just let that sink in…you and I were created through Him and for Him. Really? I continually find myself awestruck by this. You and I, in all the messes that we are, were created by God, through Jesus and for Jesus. If we are created through him, the image of God, then we cannot possibly be a mistake, right? Listen, friend: He doesn’t make mistakes. He makes beautiful things. You and I are beautiful to Him, and Paul says here that we have a purpose for Jesus. So no matter where we are in life, no matter our mistakes, God’s purpose is for all of us.
Paul also tells us that Jesus is “before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Before all things…He came first. 1 John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Bible scholars tell us that the meaning of “The Word” in this passage refers to Jesus, the Son. We are not here by accident, and we were created by a loving Father. Physics, gravity, astronomy, our joys, our heartaches, our struggles, our victories, the very fabric of our lives and our world, are held together in Him. Know what that is? That’s hope.
“He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.” He is the head, the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy. The head makes the calls, right? In everything He has supremacy.
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile himself to all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.” All these heavy words! God was pleased to have Jesus dwell in Him?! God was pleased to use Jesus to reconcile to Himself all things (that’s you and me included in all things)?! And the way He was pleased to reconcile us to Himself was by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross?!
Don’t worry, there is good news:
“But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Colossians 1:22-23
So, crazy good news, right? You and I are reconciled through his death (which we deserve, mind you!) and we are presented holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation! Is there any better news than that? Dear friends, Paul tells us we have this gift of reconciliation if we “continue in [our] faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel…that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.” Having just gone through the time of year where we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I simply cannot think of a more Merry Christmas than to remember our reconciliation that started with the manger. What better way to start a new year than to commit to continuing in our faith, established and firm, and to not move from the hope held out in the gospel, which we have heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.
