"And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." Colossians 1:17-18, NKJV

Over the weekend, as we celebrated our younger son's birthday, we got to watch him open a few gifts he received from family and friends.  He tore through gift wrap and bags with gusto and finally got to one that brought an especially large smile to his face -- a metal detector.  I know, sounds a little odd, but apparently Jacob had picked up on the idea that it would be fun to search for hidden treasures that had been lost or buried over time.  He didn't waste much time assembling his new tool and quickly went out into the yard to test it out.  As I watched him leave behind a table full of other gifts and presents, it made me wonder how often we go in search for something we think we want while leaving behind the gifts we've already been given.  In Colossians 1, the apostle Paul brings our minds back to the ultimate Gift that has already been given to us:  Jesus Christ.  He is the priceless treasure, and thankfully we don't have to go looking for Him.  He has already given Himself to us.

WHAT IS OURS IN CHRIST

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14, NKJV

In these punchy statements, the apostle Paul drives home what is truly ours in Jesus -- deliverance from the power of darkness, rightful entrance into the kingdom of the Son, redemption that came at the cost of His very blood, forgiveness of sins and the sending away of all its guilt, shame, and debt.  Incredible!  

These verses paint a picture of freedom from the darkness and curse of sin and a brand new state of existence.  

The word translated as "conveyed" in the NKJV carries the idea of definitive, authoritative change.  It's not pointing merely to a new way of looking at our life, but highlighting a verifiable relocation of the realm we inhabit.  We live in a new world altogether in which the Son rules and reigns!  What darkness have you felt bound by lately?  Doubts about God's future plans, or maybe shame from your past mistakes.  In Christ, that darkness doesn't have to rule.  That sin doesn't have to bind us.  Why?  Because their power has already been broken by Jesus.  It's not just that their hold CAN be broken but HAVE ALREADY been overcome by Jesus.  The deliverance and redemption Paul speaks of aren't just potential possibilities; they are present realities spoken of as completed actions -- "has delivered us...and conveyed us"; "we have redemption."  These are presently ours in Christ!

WHO JESUS REALLY IS

And in case we wonder how this all can be possible, Paul gives us a thorough reminder of who Jesus really is.  He doesn't want to leave any shadow of a doubt about what qualifies Jesus to grant us this kind of salvation.

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. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:15-18, NKJV 

Take it all in.  If you need to read those verses a second time, go ahead.  Jesus is the image of God, the One who perfectly reflects who God is and makes what's invisible about Him actually visible to us.  He is the Creator of all things -- things we see around us, even things in the heavenly realms we cannot see.  Every reality of every aspect of life is held together in Him. He is the One upon whom all things depend and in whom all things exist.  This is why we can and must look to Him as the preeminent One!  In Jesus, God's fullness dwells (cf. Col. 1:19).  He's more than a man, a good teacher, a venerable prophet.  He's God...fully so.  And this Jesus didn't just possess this preeminence as something to flaunt or leverage to exalt Himself.  No, as the preeminent One, Jesus gave His life for us on Calvary in order to could restore peace and wholeness to a universe wrecked by sin (cf. v. 20).  The utmost priority of the One who is before all things was to reconcile all things to Himself through His blood.  

The preeminent desire of the preeminent One is restored oneness with you and me.

OUR RESPONSE

What an awesome thought.  Do we know who Jesus is?  And do we know who we are to Him?  Knowing that He is before all things AND that He loves and wants us above all things, should move us to give Him first place in all things.  When we reflect on what is ours in Christ and call to mind who Jesus really is, it's more than just an intellectual exercise.  It's more than heady theology.  It's beholding the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  It's viewing God's mercy in a way that inspires a practical response of surrender and trust like Paul concludes elsewhere:  "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship" (Rom. 12:1).  

Later on in Colossians, the apostle extends this appeal in light of who Jesus is:  

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7, NIV

When we receive Christ Jesus and welcome the truth of who He is into our lives, we can steadily walk in Him, live our lives securely rooted in Him and daily being built up in the strength of what He alone can provide.  What is causing you to feel unsettled today?  Do you feel like you're stagnant or insufficient, declining or defeated?  Today, we can look to the One who has already delivered us from darkness and walked us into a new kind of existence in which Jesus reigns supreme.  Darkness has already been dispelled.  Sin's power has already been broken.  By faith, let's embrace the truth of who Jesus is and live the life that gives Him preeminence in all things.