Creator becomes Creation

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  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.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
(Colossians 1:15-17)

You could really spend a lot of time considering just these couple of verses in Colossians.  There are a lot of big ideas here that make known who exactly this Christ-Child was.

1.  He is the image of the invisible God – Do you remember the song “What if God was One of Us” from the 90s?  I heard it just this past week on a road trip.  God was one of us!  Jesus showed us exactly who God was, in the flesh.  Our sinfulness as humans creates a separation that prevents us from being able to stand before God and live.  Because God came down to save us by taking on human flesh, we now can see God in a way we couldn’t before.  Every word Jesus spoke, every miracle he performed, every parable he taught, all these things gave us a deeper understanding of who God is. 
2. By him all things were created – Jesus was there in Genesis 1:1. When God said “let there be light”, light appeared through the power of Jesus Christ.  This is an amazing mystery to ponder in connection with John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2).  Jesus was there from the beginning.  Nothing was created without him, including humans.  Our creator was going to take on human flesh and walk among his creation in order to save us.  Can you wrap your mind around that?
3. Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.  – God commands everything.  The census that required him to be born in Bethlehem was under is control.  The attempts on his life by Herod were under his control.  The Roman occupation was under his control.  The legalistic pharisees that would call for his death were under his control.  Jesus was not a victim of chance, he came into human form at exactly the right time to accomplish his purpose and purchase salvation for us.

These are just a couple of the big ideas from these verses.  What else stands out to you?  Can you marvel at the fact that the God who created all things would love his creation so much that he would become part of it in order to save us?  Can you trust that every aspect of your life, from the year you were born to the family you were raised in to the city in which you now live are part of God’s perfect plan and that Jesus is still holding everything together for your good and his glory?