Colossians 1:15–16: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

June 26th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In the 1st century there was a group called the Gnostics who denied the deity of Jesus. It was a heresy that was creeping into the church, so the Apostle Paul addressed that false doctrine in these verses. He very clearly spelled out for the Colossians, and us, the divine identity of Jesus Christ. First he says that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, or as we would say today, God in the flesh. Second, he calls Him the firstborn over all creation; however, that does not mean that Jesus was created. The word used here means “over all” or “first in rank.” It is usually translated as “heir or owner.” In ancient Greek it means the “ranking one or supreme one.” Third, Paul writes, “by Him all things were created,” meaning that Jesus was always pre-existent with the Father, all the way back to the vanishing point.

The last phrase, “All things were created through Him and for Him,” reveals the purpose of creation. All of creation was made for Him; for Him to redeem, love, and forgive. Or as it says in Revelation 4:11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (KJV). Paul clearly wasn’t worried about putting Jesus on too high a pedestal or putting too much emphasis on Him. In fact, he says it is all about Jesus because He is part of the trinity, the Godhead, three in one.

This reminds us of the story of the Sunday School Kindergarten teacher who was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.” Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, “They will in a minute.” We can know what God looks like when we look at Jesus Christ, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).

“LORD, we ask again for forgiveness and Your presence in our lives today.”