Colossians 1:15-19 (ESV)

[15] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And 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, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

As 21^st Century Western believers we have learned the significance of these verses in terms of our theology. We can defend the deity of Jesus, but we miss the point. Jesus is God. As such, thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities “were created through him and for him” (Col 1:16). There are two truths here that we give lip service to, but fail to live out on a consistent basis.

First, the goal is that “in everything he might be preeminent” (Col 1:18). In other words, it’s not about me. Too often our prayers, our worship, our board meetings and business meetings, our meetings in the parking lot after the meetings are all about us. What makes us feel good? What keeps us comfortable? What music do we like the best? Why doesn’t God take away my pain, or my problems? We have turned the focus of the church on us when it was never about us. It is about Jesus

Second, we give lip service to God, but fail to trust him. We listen to stories from missionaries about demons and witch doctors. We are wowed by the stories, but scared to death by the demons and witch doctors. Have we forgotten that “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Col 1:13)? Do we not believe that he is indeed preeminent? Do we not believe that even the demons are subject to the authority of Jesus? We allow these things to fill us with fear.

Then we turn from the spiritual realm to the earthly realm and fear the cults, the false religions, the druggies, and those caught in the dark world of sin. Why should Muslim immigrants fill us with fear? Why would we assume that druggies and alcoholics are beyond salvation and sanctification? Why do we give lip service to the power of God, but live as though he is incapable of transforming lives? If God “delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Col 1:13), does he not have the power to do the same thing for those caught up in cults, false religions, violence, drugs, human trafficking, etc.?

Why would we live in fear and allow fear to drive our decisions and policies if we really believed that Jesus is who this passage says he is? Or, could it be that we love to talk and sing about the greatness of Jesus because that makes us feel good, but in the end we don’t really believe it? Here is the most mind-blowing, incredible, world shaking truth, Jesus “is the image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15). He created all things, and all things are subject to his power and authority. “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col 2:9), and he has “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Col 2:15). There is no power that can stand against him. Maybe it is time that we live as though we actually believe our theology.