We started last week looking at Jesus as our amazing Savior and we talked about Him being the exact representation and manifestation of our heavenly Father. Today we want to take a few moments to consider Jesus’ role in creation. We read from Colossians, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things and in Him all things hold together,” (Col.1:16,17 NASB). Paul’s writing tells us that Jesus is the author of all creation. But let’s consider for a moment Paul’s pre-conversion view of the Lord Jesus Christ, he was a hated enemy doing all he could to persecute Christians for their faith in Jesus Christ. Not only does Jesus Christ change our lives, but true conversion should also change our thought processes as well. Everything owes its existence and origins to the creative work of Jesus Christ as God’s agent in creation.
Paul was very conscious of the world filled with both good and evil spirits. But when he refers to that which is “visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities”, he also highlights the fact that all of these things are subject to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Heaven was created for Christ as a place for His special residency and as a home for His people. Remember Jesus went away to prepare a place for us that He has now been preparing for 2000 years (John 14:3). The human race was created by Him and for Him, because this is the reality of our world, we need to carefully learn to view everything in its connection with Jesus. Some of the false teachers had incorporated the heresy of worshiping the angels, but Paul was demonstrating that the grounds of our confidence, gratitude, and faith are only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul rejected the idea of worshiping angels, whatever rank, whether they be fallen or holy, because all of these are part of the created universe, under the Creator who is none other than the preeminent one- the Lord Jesus Christ.
In verses 16 and 17 the phrases “by Him”, “for Him” and “in Him” are all empathized in the Greek language. They are the star of the verses just as Jesus is the source of all the created universe. John in introducing his gospel emphasized the same truth. We read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being,” (John 1:1-3 NASB). Once again, we see Jesus has no equal or rival. Jesus created the universe for His good pleasure and glory. Both Paul and John described the fact that before the universe was ever created Jesus existed, the whole creation is held together by the power of the Son of God and made to consist in its proper frame of reference by Jesus’s power. Jesus is the controlling and unifying force behind nature. He is superior to all things and holds all things together by His Majesty and His Might. The vast universe that we live as just tiny objects is made coherent by the Lord Jesus Christ and when we consider the special grace that He’s extended to us to daily live and breathe in our world, we know for certain that He alone is worthy of all our worship and praise.
All created things gather their significance and importance out of what they do, but for us as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ our dignity, worth and glory are found only through our connection to the Lord Jesus Christ. The grand end of all our endeavors should always be to glorify and worship the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is entitled to our universal obedience and worship. Won’t you join me in the coming week in giving glory to the Lord Jesus Christ for all He has done and for His hand and touch on our lives.
All for God’s glory,
Pastor Rich Sivo
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