Post-Passion Processing (Part 3)

On the first morning of Passion ’07, our community group began digging into the book of Colossians. It would take me months to recount all of the things that God has taught me through this book during and since Passion, but I want to share briefly some of the things we talked about in my family group from Colossians 1:16. Paul writes: For by [Christ] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

We considered the implications of this truth. If truly all things have been created by Christ, why then should we ever deign to elevate anything above the Creator? This very temptation, the sin of idolatry, is common in the Bible. Most of the descriptions of the sin of the Israelites throughout the Old Testament include the word “idolatrous.” Sadly, the same word can often be used to describe God’s people today. How easy it is for us to get caught up in the creation and disregard the Creator! Rather, we should enjoy the creation solely because it reflects and points us to the beauty of the Maker. I think if we really grasped this truth, that the creation is never more wonderful, or more beautiful, or more glorious than the Creator, our lives would look vastly different.

We continued with another thought: we are included in “all things.” Just as we may be tempted to elevate possessions, or status, or relationships above God, we also are faced with the constant fleshly desire to elevate ourselves above God. This is more commonly known as pride. Every time we seek to take control of a situation, or complain about our circumstances, or in any way attempt to thwart God’s perfect plan for our lives, we are exhibiting pride. We put ourselves in the place of God, and therefore elevate ourselves above Him.

How do we combat this? I believe we can find part of the answer further on in Colossians. In chapter 3 Paul exhorts those who have been raised with Christ to “keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (3:1-2). This sounds like a simple remedy to such an overwhelming sin, but there it is. By the power of Christ working constantly in us, we may turn our minds and our affections heavenward.

Let us then, therefore, look upward to our wonderful Maker. Let our look not to ourselves or to the created around us, but to the sovereign Creator who is more worthy to be praised than anything we might praise on this earth. Let us not rob Him of the glory that is due His name and no other.