All the Fullness of God
Colossians 1:15-20
15. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 16. for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him. 17. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. 19. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, 20. and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
My bible notes indicate these verses may have been an early Christian hymn. They are rather lyrical and I can see how that may have been the case. Paul sets out to establish through these verses Christ’s supremacy on two fronts: first, His supremacy in creation, and second, His supremacy in redemption. Christ is called the “image of the invisible God” meaning He is the exact representation of God. I think He sent Christ in the form of a man, because that is what we could understand – we’re not too quick (just like the apostles) with “esoteric, symbolic” explanations of things! We needed something “concrete” that we could see and touch.
Paul stresses Christ’ pre-eminence numerous times in these few verses! He wants to be sure we recognize, understand, accept and infuse into our hearts and minds that Christ is Supreme. He is above all rulers of this world. His law – perfect and pure – supercedes all human law. His Word – holy and true – is the only word we need to hear and understand. When Adam and Eve defied God and disobeyed his only command; they not only created a rift between God and mankind; but the whole world – all of creation – suffered and was out of synch with God’s will. That is until Jesus Christ.
He is God, yet separate. He is man, yet divinely superior. He is first-born of all creation – and is entitled to all the privileges and rights of an heir and successor. He was with God at creation and will be with Him in heaven at the end of time—and dwells there now with Him. And yet he humbled himself. He made himself like us. And He offered himself up for us. And the world has never been the same! All things are now reconciled to Him. He made peace with God on our behalf with his body and his blood. And “all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell” in him.
We keep on trying to throw this world out of synch. We have our own great ideas about how things should be. We insist on changing the course of history and thus, God’s plan and His timing and His will. But we never quite get it right! And we never will until we let Him be in charge. Through Christ all things are held together. Until we adopt a lifestyle modeled for us by Him, and adapt our way of thinking to that of His thoughts, we will never “get it right.”
So if “life is good” it’s because we are living as God desires—according to His will, His plan, His timing. And if life’s not so good, it doesn’t mean we’re bad or terrible sinners. It just means that God is refining us and preparing us for heaven. And it’s worth the wait, and the preparation, and the work. It’s worth everything!
I hope your spend your day dwelling with Christ – all the fullness of God – and rejoicing that we are being prepared for heaven.
Mary
