Upheld Through His Pre-Eminence

Ruminations 

Have you ever read something only to have it confirmed or repeated again a short time later? I’ve been reading in the book of Colossians in the Bible, and last week our pastor talked about it. Usually when that happens, it means “pay attention!”

It is the end of another year. This is when we turn to ruminations. How does the year we just passed measure up? What will the new year bring?

We celebrated Christmas this past week—the anniversary of when our Lord Jesus came to earth to start His redemptive ministry of all of us. My pastor said that even as a baby, Jesus held the universe safely in His hands. Nothing spun out of control, even as He made Himself a tiny human infant. I saw a scientific presentation on Facebook that showed us where we sit in the universe. Uh…I couldn’t see the planet earth. And the same God who rules that vast expanse of the unknown put Himself on this tiny pinprick of a planet in the smallest human form possible.

Possible? How?

He could do this because He is PRE-EMINENT. This means He is far above all others, superior in every way. He surpasses everything in greatness. He is first, high and lofty. He is renowned, distinguished, and outstanding. No other authority is above Him.

Through His redemption of us, He has gained the right to buy us back—and with settlers rights, the earth once more belongs to Him. He replaced the old, and stolen, order.

As God, everything is possible for Him. And it’s ok if we don’t get it—we are the created. We don’t have to understand, just trust that our pre-eminent God has everything in hand.

Provision

Colossians tells us that His power provides for us:

• Being filled with the knowledge of His will
• We can have wisdom and spiritual understanding
• Our walk, the way we live life, pleases Him
• Fruitfulness in every good work
• Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power
• Patience and longsuffering are ours
• Joy!
• Sharing the inheritance of His light
• Deliverance from the powers of darkness
• Translation into Jesus’ Kingdom of Love
• Forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ Blood
• Reflection of His image

Wow! Some great Christmas gifts, wouldn’t you say?

Pre-Eminent 

And what does Colossians say about Jesus?

• He is the Image of the invisible God
• Firstborn over all creation
• All things—all things everywhere—including powers and principalities—were made by Him, through Him and for Him.
• All things exist through Him
• He is the first over all things—He is pre-eminent.

I’m thinking that this is a good way to end the old year and start the new year. Pondering how safe we are in the Hands of a God who is pre-eminent over all things, in every way. How He loved us enough to make Himself one of the smallest of creatures in order to redeem us and provide us with eternal life.

And we get to spend it with Him. Face to face!

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” Colossians 1:19-20.