Colossians Part Two

By Johnny Angel

Colossians 1:[15] No one can see God, but Jesus Christ is exactly like him. He ranks higher than everything that has been made. [16] Through his power all things were made--things in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, all powers, authorities, lords, and rulers. All things were made through Christ and for Christ. [17] He was there before anything was made, and all things continue because of him. [18] He is the head of the body, which is the church. Everything comes from him. He is the first one who was raised from the dead. So in all things Jesus has first place. [19] God was pleased for all of himself to live in Christ. [20] And through Christ, God has brought all things back to himself again--things on earth and things in heaven. God made peace through the blood of Christ's death on the cross. [21] At one time you were separated from God. You were his enemies in your minds, and the evil things you did were against God. [22] But now God has made you friends again. He did this through Christ's death in the body so that he might bring you into God's presence as people who are holy, with no wrong, and with nothing of which God can judge you guilty. [23] This will happen if you continue strong and sure in your faith. You must not be moved away from the hope brought to you by the Good News that you heard. That same Good News has been told to everyone in the world, and I, Paul, help in preaching that Good News (NCV).


I think this is one of the most beautiful descriptions of who Jesus is. It is a wonderful description of God's plan of salvation for all mankind. Though our sin has separated us from God, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross serves as a bridge to unite us with God the Father if we will only accept the sacrifice and commit our lives to Him. This passage makes it clear that Jesus did create earth. So the next time someone starts explaining how that creation just happened by accident, you can say you know the truth found in God's Word. This passage proves that God created us to have a relationship with us. It reveals that creation is supposed to serve God's purposes. That means our entire reason for existing is to know God through Jesus' death on the cross.

I have heard a story several times about Leondardo da Vinci painting the Last Supper. He got irriated at a fellow painter and painted that person's face into the face of Judas Iscariot. Afterwards, he painted more but could never finish Jesus' face. Finally, he realized that his hatred was separating him from God. When he forgave his colleague and changed the face of Judas to literally be the face of Judas, he could paint the face of Jesus.

How does the bridge look in your life? Are you standing on one side of the canyon between you and God or have you allowed the Master Builder to be the bridge that connects you to God?