God of the Unseen: Colossians 1.15-17

 

Colossians 1:15-17 is part of an old song, a hymn.  I’m reminded of a visit with my parents when my nieces discovered an old record player.  They didn’t know what it was!  I had the privilege of showing them how to use it and it was interesting to listen to it.  There’s something nostalgic about the crackling sound it makes. 

This song, Colossians 1:15-17, is over 2,000 years old.  As we take communion together today this is a sacred moment for us.  We do this with our brothers and sisters around the world.  This song was sung by the earliest believers.  It’s a song about who Jesus is.  It’s an early hymn.

Jesus is our Creator.

In creation God is visible. 

                        ¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶For by him all things were created,

How can we know a God that is invisible?  This seems crazy!  If you tell someone that you have an invisible friend what will they think of you?  We think of imaginary friends and then virtual friends that we can see.  We worship a God that we cannot see but at the same time we know Him through His creation.  God sent Jesus to us.  We are made in the image of God, so we can see God in one another.  We were all created in the image of God.  You have a part of God’s image in who you are.  Creativity, intelligence and beauty all come from God.  We look at one another and see the image of God.  We also see things that are distorted, a partial image of God.  One day we will be fully restored.  Jesus is our picture of the undistorted image of God, the perfect One.  Jesus is the full representation of God.  Jesus is the first born; Jesus ranks highest.  He is in charge and created everything.  There’s a couple of prepositions here in verse 16.  “By Him” all was created.  It was His idea.  Have you ever had the idea to create something?  A gazebo for your yard?  A t-shirt?  It was God’s idea to create.  Think about creation.  We see God in creation and in one another.  How could all of this come into being?  What fascinates you about the world?  Maybe it’s the ability of the sun to radiate energy?  Maybe it’s the sky being so blue?  The leaves changing colors?  Maybe you’re more scientific and marvel at how the earth is tilted 24.3 degrees on its’ axis by God’s design to sustain human life?  We are made by God and we belong to Him.

We are His.

            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. 

All that is seen and unseen belongs to God.  Wherever you look everything was made by Jesus, the seen and the unseen.  I hope you have moments when you take a walk and something fascinates you.  I hope you are overwhelmed by God’s creativity.  There’s a part of this here that we resonate with.  Not everyone sees this.  

Years ago I was talking with a guy who was retired military.  He was very rigid and from West Virginia.  He was a coal miner and had a hard life.  I said, “You’re from West Virginia.  What a beautiful place!”  He said, “Ehhh.” Then he said he doesn’t like the outdoors.  He had over 300 video tapes and liked to watch TV.  I hope you’re still in wonder and awe of God’s creation.  Even what we cannot see was made by God. 

“Dominions and rulers” is a vague concept.  We think of things that we see as belonging to God but even invisible things belong to Him.  Lots of things are invisible.  For example, when you go to the post office to mail a package and when you arrive and there’s 8 people there waiting.  What would happen if you walked right up to the counter?  What response are you going to get?  There’s no sign about it but in our culture we know we have to get in line.  It’s an invisible power structure we have.  Even the invisible big power structures belong to God.  There’s no power on this earth that isn’t subject to Jesus.  We’ve experienced unseen things recently that have caused great stress.  This great hymn reminds us that all are subject to Jesus but we also know that not everyone obeys.  For example, some things we own do not always do what’s expected.  I don’t always open my banana perfectly. I don’t throw away the banana just because it didn’t open perfectly.  This world belongs to God even though it’s not how it’s supposed to be.  Revelation is the reclaiming of what belongs to God and making everything right again.  God continues to hold the world even when we do things we’re not supposed to do.  We can confess to God that we’ve not done what we were supposed to do.  We can tell God we have not walked with Him fully and completely.

He holds everything together.

                        ¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

Jesus is first place.  Jesus is preeminent over all creation.  We’ll see this more in Colossians later as we take a deeper dive into what it means for God to be preeminent in our lives.  Jesus holds everything together.  If people don’t think you’re weird enough, try putting, “My invisible friend holds the universe together," on your social media page.  Jesus holds it all together.  This sounds absurd to some minds.  Plato and Aristotle actually believed there’s an unexplainable force that holds everything together.  Colossians tells us it’s Jesus who holds it all together.  It’s easy to become discouraged in our world because our lives can feel like chaos.  We are created and sustained by Jesus.  Do you feel like your life is chaotic?  I hope you find relief in this passage.  I invite you to do something.  Maybe you’re experiencing chaos and you’re trying to conquer it or wrangle it.  In Genesis 1 the earth was formless and void, chaotic.  God in His creative power brings order out of chaos.  God takes what’s crazy chaotic and brings it together.  Think about the chaos of the cross.  The disciples are scattered.  Their leader and Savior is being nailed to a cross.  It’s utter chaos.  The tomb is chaotic as well because it’s empty.  The women run to the disciples and they find the empty tomb.  Then something happens.  The women are in turmoil and an angel asks them why they are looking for the living among the dead.  He is risen!  As we worship it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of our world.  Bring your chaos to God.  Whatever chaos you have, God has it.  By Him and in Him and for Him…  He holds it all together.  

God, please remind us we are Yours.  We give ourselves to You. 

Sermon Notes are taken, transcribed and posted by Jeni Martin Johnson.  Sermon by Dr. Scotty Carpenter.

Children’s Sermon by Janet Smith

“You take that back!”  Have you ever heard those words?  Children will say this sometimes but when out words are our we cannot take them back.  I’ve been reading in James and it says no human can tame the tongue.  We say, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”  Truth is that what we say is a reflection of what we think and who we are.  What’s in our heart comes out of our mouth.  God can help us with this.  The more we become like God we can speak things that are positive instead of things that are hurtful.  There’s a prayer in Psalm 51:10 that can help us.  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”  Let’s be people of salt and light.  Lord, we ask that what comes out of our mouth and minds be encouraging and helpful.