"Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Jesus all things were created....All things were created through Jesus and for ('unto') Jesus. And Jesus is before all things, and in Jesus all things consist (literally, 'hold together'). And Jesus is the head of the body, the Church, Jesus is the beginning, the firstborn out from the dead, that in all things Jesus may have the preeminence. Because in Jesus was pleased all the Fullness to dwell, and by Jesus to reconcile all things to Father, by Jesus, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the Blood of Jesus' cross." (Colossians 1:15-20, Interlinear)
If the modern Church does not grasp, cling to, fight the, "principalities and powers," to proclaim the Truth, the Theology, the Reality of our text, it is no longer the Church of Jesus Christ. It is no longer, as 1 Timothy 3:15 declares, "the Church of the Living God." I read a book 55 years ago by W. H. Griffith Thomas entitled, "Christianity is Christ." Any other definition is superfluous.
People talk of "legacy." If I leave any legacy at all may it be our text. The Church in Western Civilization is declining, declining in numbers, declining in giving. Personally, I attribute at least one of the reasons, perhaps the preeminent reason, to the failure to proclaim Jesus Christ as revealed in our text.
Christendom, not the Church, is amalgamating the ancient Doctrines of Scripture with various religions, some ancient, some more recent, along with Christ-rejecting theologies, philosophies. "God will not allow this to happen." No one can make anyone or anything other than Jesus preeminent and expect Our Father and Holy Spirit to "show favor," to give "success." Make no mistake; what we may call "favor" and "success" is most likely defined differently by the Living Triune G0d.
God told Joshua the only way to succeed, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall mediate, ('be constantly in It') day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." I don't call declining membership and declining giving as, "prosperous," and, "success."
So, how does this "help" you today to go about your day? It does for you what reading today's text did for me this morning, a constant reminder of who you and I are in Jesus Christ, Jesus calling us to Himself, bringing us to Father, in the Holy Spirit. If anyone is just looking to "get through the day," there is a higher calling in Jesus Christ. It is found in the ancient cry, "Christus Victor," the reality of which declares that everything out to destroy you and me has been destroyed in the Blood, Death and Resurrection of Jesus----------- "....that in all things Jesus may have the Preeminence."
Father, in Jesus' Name, You told the world to, "Hear Jesus." I pray it does. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
