Colossians 1:15-28. In Jesus – everything holds together 22/7/07
{15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. {16} For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. {17} He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. {18} 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. {19} For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, {20} 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. {21} Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. {22} 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-- {23} if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved 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. {24} Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. {25} I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- {26} the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. {27} To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Having just been on holidays and having travelled through different parts of our country: Sitting alongside the river fishing, walking through the Bunya mountains and the like leads very much into the thoughts of our reading here today. Creation, nature and our world certainly is a marvellous thing. To look around us and see what we have and to be able to have enjoyment in it, is really great. However, I wonder in light of our text here, whether we have lost the correct perspective to all that we have about us.
I certainly believe that most people today no longer see our world and all that we have available in it, as is intended for us do so. As a result, we have lost the true order and harmony that should be in it there for us. We have used and abused all that has been made available, in ways that are far from satisfactory. Because we do not understand, or even want to know the purpose of creation, we lose much of the greatness and the benefits that are there for us.
You see, in our day and age, humanity and more particularly the individual is seen to be very much the centre and hub of everything. It is us who determine what is good, useful, and important. What we have around us is there merely for our good and enjoyment. Our whole world is seen simply in terms of being there for our benefit; to use and abuse as we see fit. And sadly that is way it is for many. They have lost sight of the bigger picture; and the order, harmony and purpose of creation thereby is lost; hidden under our desire, our selfishness and self-centredness.
As a result we spoil and damage much of what we see; and more particularly we don’t find the true beauty, greatness and value that is there for us. Because we put ourselves in the centre we run into all sorts of trouble. Even though we think we are so clever and enlightened, we lose out on many of the things that are important.
Even those who go to the other extreme and say that the environment and nature are the be all and end all, also lose sight of the true order and purpose of creation. They over-emphasise the importance of what we see around us. They lift up the kangaroo, whale, tree or whatever as being all important. Global warming is seen to be the result of our chopping downs trees and digging up the coal and the like. We should have left our environment just the way it always was: what ever that was! So for them far too often the environment becomes the centre of life. So again we lose the plot – we fail to see the true meaning and purpose of what we have around us.
That being the case we all need to listen again to the message that we have here in this reading. It only with this understanding that we will see nature and the world around us as it needs to be seen; and that we will truly appreciate it all as it was intended. Only then will everything – environment, us, God and our enjoyment and every other aspect of life – be in harmony as it should be.
This important point and message is, that it is only Jesus Christ that gives value to all of these things. It is only in and through him that it all fit and holds together. It is only in him that each and every part has it’s meaning and purpose. It is by him and for him that all this exists and holds together; not us or anything else.
In this reading we are told that it was by him that all things were created – everything, by him and for him. The Father worked through his Son Jesus to create everything in the splendid form that it is. So every other thing and being – other than God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are here as something that has and finds it’s reason and purpose in the Lord Jesus Christ – no where else. So to find where each part fits we need to look first and foremost to him who had a hand in placing it there.
Unfortunately that is where most of us come unstuck. We live and act as if much this world stands separate and that it has no real connection to God or the Christian life. We think we have to control and manipulate it – and that it is there purely for our benefit. We far too often fail to consider that it is the Lord Jesus who stands supreme over all; and that is only in and under him that it all exists effectively.
So we are reminded here that creation in whatever form it comes then, finds it’s proper use and purpose as it focuses and works and is used for the glory of its creator. All is here so that Jesus Christ may be upheld and centred on as being what life is all about: that he might be glorified.
We can and need to give him that glory because God through Jesus Christ has not only created this world, but then went on and restored that relationship that existed at the beginning of time but was broken by are sinfulness and our desire to use what we wanted to for our own selfish pleasure. Through his death on the cross he destroyed that barrier that sin places between God and us and our world around us. And his rising again from death gives new hope and new life to all who would have it.
Even though we still live in a world suffering as a result of sin we now can have the certainty of knowing that we have been reconciled to God: that we will be presented to God perfect – without blemish and fault. Not because of ourselves – but because of the Lord Jesus – to him be glory now and always. That then in turn enables us to now look to and use all that around us, in a way that is good and helpful for all.
As life begins anew for all who believe – that is, all who trust that Jesus has done everything necessary and that through our baptism we have become part of his body. So now in and through him we find that everything holds together and has a purpose. Now it is possible for us to live as we should be living. Now we can see that life is not meant to be centred on ourselves or on any created thing. Instead our whole life can focus on our God and give glory to our Lord Jesus. At the same time we use what we have before us to help alleviate the suffering of our fellow human-beings and to assist them to also know Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Then as we look at the beauty of creation, we can remember our great God. Also as we go about our work and as we use the things that God has placed around us to use, we do so in a way that we might give some glory to our Lord. Even our money and material possessions, sport and leisure are gifts to us to be used in order to help us and others keep our focus on him who gives us all these good gifts. As we face difficulty and even tragedy we do so knowing that it is the result of sin; and that our Lord Jesus has defeated it’s power to hurt and harm us. So even that turns us ever back to looking to him as our helper and friend. Everything now is held together by and for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therein we find that all things then work together in harmony: all finds a meaning and a purpose that is good and wholesome. Then not only will glory go where it belongs, but we ourselves will find a far greater sense of peace and belonging; and yes especially much joy and happiness. Nature and all creation will be seen and used in a way that draws us together, and give a sense of wellbeing and peace.
So then let us remember this important lesson - that it is in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ that everything holds together, and becomes a blessing rather than a curse. It is all created by him and for him. So again, to him be all glory now and always. AMEN
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
Peace God passes ….
Hymn 454
{15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. {16} For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. {17} He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. {18} 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. {19} For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, {20} 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. {21} Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. {22} 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-- {23} if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved 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. {24} Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. {25} I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- {26} the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. {27} To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Having just been on holidays and having travelled through different parts of our country: Sitting alongside the river fishing, walking through the Bunya mountains and the like leads very much into the thoughts of our reading here today. Creation, nature and our world certainly is a marvellous thing. To look around us and see what we have and to be able to have enjoyment in it, is really great. However, I wonder in light of our text here, whether we have lost the correct perspective to all that we have about us.
I certainly believe that most people today no longer see our world and all that we have available in it, as is intended for us do so. As a result, we have lost the true order and harmony that should be in it there for us. We have used and abused all that has been made available, in ways that are far from satisfactory. Because we do not understand, or even want to know the purpose of creation, we lose much of the greatness and the benefits that are there for us.
You see, in our day and age, humanity and more particularly the individual is seen to be very much the centre and hub of everything. It is us who determine what is good, useful, and important. What we have around us is there merely for our good and enjoyment. Our whole world is seen simply in terms of being there for our benefit; to use and abuse as we see fit. And sadly that is way it is for many. They have lost sight of the bigger picture; and the order, harmony and purpose of creation thereby is lost; hidden under our desire, our selfishness and self-centredness.
As a result we spoil and damage much of what we see; and more particularly we don’t find the true beauty, greatness and value that is there for us. Because we put ourselves in the centre we run into all sorts of trouble. Even though we think we are so clever and enlightened, we lose out on many of the things that are important.
Even those who go to the other extreme and say that the environment and nature are the be all and end all, also lose sight of the true order and purpose of creation. They over-emphasise the importance of what we see around us. They lift up the kangaroo, whale, tree or whatever as being all important. Global warming is seen to be the result of our chopping downs trees and digging up the coal and the like. We should have left our environment just the way it always was: what ever that was! So for them far too often the environment becomes the centre of life. So again we lose the plot – we fail to see the true meaning and purpose of what we have around us.
That being the case we all need to listen again to the message that we have here in this reading. It only with this understanding that we will see nature and the world around us as it needs to be seen; and that we will truly appreciate it all as it was intended. Only then will everything – environment, us, God and our enjoyment and every other aspect of life – be in harmony as it should be.
This important point and message is, that it is only Jesus Christ that gives value to all of these things. It is only in and through him that it all fit and holds together. It is only in him that each and every part has it’s meaning and purpose. It is by him and for him that all this exists and holds together; not us or anything else.
In this reading we are told that it was by him that all things were created – everything, by him and for him. The Father worked through his Son Jesus to create everything in the splendid form that it is. So every other thing and being – other than God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are here as something that has and finds it’s reason and purpose in the Lord Jesus Christ – no where else. So to find where each part fits we need to look first and foremost to him who had a hand in placing it there.
Unfortunately that is where most of us come unstuck. We live and act as if much this world stands separate and that it has no real connection to God or the Christian life. We think we have to control and manipulate it – and that it is there purely for our benefit. We far too often fail to consider that it is the Lord Jesus who stands supreme over all; and that is only in and under him that it all exists effectively.
So we are reminded here that creation in whatever form it comes then, finds it’s proper use and purpose as it focuses and works and is used for the glory of its creator. All is here so that Jesus Christ may be upheld and centred on as being what life is all about: that he might be glorified.
We can and need to give him that glory because God through Jesus Christ has not only created this world, but then went on and restored that relationship that existed at the beginning of time but was broken by are sinfulness and our desire to use what we wanted to for our own selfish pleasure. Through his death on the cross he destroyed that barrier that sin places between God and us and our world around us. And his rising again from death gives new hope and new life to all who would have it.
Even though we still live in a world suffering as a result of sin we now can have the certainty of knowing that we have been reconciled to God: that we will be presented to God perfect – without blemish and fault. Not because of ourselves – but because of the Lord Jesus – to him be glory now and always. That then in turn enables us to now look to and use all that around us, in a way that is good and helpful for all.
As life begins anew for all who believe – that is, all who trust that Jesus has done everything necessary and that through our baptism we have become part of his body. So now in and through him we find that everything holds together and has a purpose. Now it is possible for us to live as we should be living. Now we can see that life is not meant to be centred on ourselves or on any created thing. Instead our whole life can focus on our God and give glory to our Lord Jesus. At the same time we use what we have before us to help alleviate the suffering of our fellow human-beings and to assist them to also know Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Then as we look at the beauty of creation, we can remember our great God. Also as we go about our work and as we use the things that God has placed around us to use, we do so in a way that we might give some glory to our Lord. Even our money and material possessions, sport and leisure are gifts to us to be used in order to help us and others keep our focus on him who gives us all these good gifts. As we face difficulty and even tragedy we do so knowing that it is the result of sin; and that our Lord Jesus has defeated it’s power to hurt and harm us. So even that turns us ever back to looking to him as our helper and friend. Everything now is held together by and for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therein we find that all things then work together in harmony: all finds a meaning and a purpose that is good and wholesome. Then not only will glory go where it belongs, but we ourselves will find a far greater sense of peace and belonging; and yes especially much joy and happiness. Nature and all creation will be seen and used in a way that draws us together, and give a sense of wellbeing and peace.
So then let us remember this important lesson - that it is in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ that everything holds together, and becomes a blessing rather than a curse. It is all created by him and for him. So again, to him be all glory now and always. AMEN
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
Peace God passes ….
Hymn 454
posted by Roger at
7:20 pm
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