Colossians 1:15–28
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel. I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Reflection
We were made in the image of God. Here Paul speaks of the invisible image of God. In Jesus, however, we have the visible image of God in flesh. Jesus existence throughout all time and even before time permits us to be made in the image of God. So, Jesus was involved in creation and in fact above creation. Jesus was included in the creation but at the same time not created. Jesus is the Creator. And in this the created have unity in Jesus.
Jesus was so involved with creation that all things were created through him and for him. All things, including heaven and earth. All things... even those things that we can't perceive... those things of heaven too. Jesus created and Jesus is the goal of creation. Jesus is the One.
Jesus in creation brings out a new creation in the Church. And Jesus is head of the Church. The Church is created and sustained through Jesus. All things are held together firmly in Jesus. Creation and the Church and heaven and earth are bound up in Jesus.
How do we reconcile our sin with this Jesus? We may even behave "good" but what about our thoughts? Even in our pure actions, our thoughts separate us from God by rejecting God's supremacy in all creation. We are the created, but sometimes we act as if we think we are the creators. We all have sinned and separated ourselves from God. But, thanks be to God, through Jesus passion we can be saved. Saved not by our own doing, but saved through the love of Jesus for his created.
As we attempt to break that strong bond or glue of Jesus with his creation; Jesus saves us from this sinfulness through his life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection to life. Jesus becomes the first to be resurrected from the dead and we who believe in Jesus graceful gift of salvation will rise from the dead as well. We will rise to a new life in Jesus. And this resurrection begins the moment we believe in spirit as well as in the future after our fleshly death. We will rise! All due to what Jesus has done for his created.
Oh, how we seek that day when all will rise and Jesus presents us holy. Jesus will present us holy as he is holy, because Jesus fulfills the created. As we stand firm in this faith that Jesus is the only one to present us holy, we stand firm in the gospel proclaimed through Jesus life. But, how awful for those who separate themselves from God. How awful will that day be for those who refuse to believe. How awful for those who have made themselves their own God. How awful for those who take up other false gods and place their lives in the hands of another. May these have one more chance. May God be gracious to these and reconciliation take place at the last.
So, we live our lives in faith. We live our lives in the belief that all of our sufferings, all of our works, all of our passions, may bring glory to God our Father, Jesus our brother and the Holy Spirit. We live our lives in our present state towards that glory that Jesus has prepared for us through what Jesus has done for his created. We live our lives in the hope and love of God in Jesus. We live and we continue on, standing firm through all trials and tribulations, knowing that Jesus will make complete ourselves and all of his creation.
All of this to the glory of God!
Prayer
Lord, you poured it on today! You poured it on through your Word in the words of Paul. You poured it on in Jesus. You poured it on to me in such a way that your mystery is revealed yet your mystery is way beyond anything I can understand. Yes, Lord, you poured it on today. May I pour myself out to you and to all you give to me, all to your glory and honor and priase... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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