Colossians 1:11-20.          In Jesus – everything finds its purpose!        20/11/16

¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

As we conclude another church year our focus is again drawn to the centre of all things: to that which is most important of all. Here it is made clear that this centre is way above and beyond anything and everything else and yet gives meaning and purpose to everything that we see around us.

Here this morning in the baptism of another young person into God’s family, we are reminded of just how important this event really is. Particularly now in this day and age where our world, despite all the promises, is unravelling and losing its identity, purpose and hope. We are desperately trying to find something to hold life together for us and help us to make sense of what is going on.

It would seem that we today are more and more closing our minds down and simply living for the moment because it is all too hard; and in the end there is nothing firm and concrete for us to hold on to. Even though we simply live for today and the pleasures that we can have, we know deep down that there has to be more to life than this.

Here we need to recognise also that religion and even ‘church’ is not simply the answer. Any organisation or man-made religious philosophy adds to this frustration and meaninglessness. Any system that is focussed on ‘me’ and the rules that we make for ourselves and don’t live up to, increases this disillusionment.  

That is why here we are taken right back to the only thing that is really right and good; and which gives meaning and purpose to everything. Yet too often we get turned off with talk of Jesus, because people have simply used of him and his name to further their own ends and ideas, rather than taking him and what he says seriously. Never the less, he is for real; he is true and what he says is good for us.

The evidence for Jesus Christ and his death on the cross and the truth of the Bible is there for all who would care to see it. There is far more reliability in the Bible than there is for almost anything else. The truth is there, guaranteed. It has stood the test of time and history more than anything else.

Unfortunately, we don’t want to heed it and what it says, because we want to be free to do what we want to do. We don’t want God, or anyone else for that matter, telling us what to do. Even though it is ever so clear that we continually get it wrong and bring troubles and disasters on ourselves. We are hell-bent on continuing down that path. Even that, the Bible tells us is and will be the case for those who choose to reject what he has to say there. Sadly, the end result for them is an eternity in hell instead of heaven.

So with all of this in mind, we all need to listen again to the message that we have here in this reading. It is only with this understanding that we will see everything as it needs to be seen, and that we will truly appreciate it all as was intended. Only then will everything be in harmony as it should be and give meaning and purpose to our lives.

The main point of this message here is that it is only Jesus Christ that gives value and purpose to any and all of these other things. It is only in him that they all fit and hold together. It is only in him that each and every part has its meaning and purpose; and it is by and for him that all this exists and holds together; not us or anything else.

In this reading we are told that it was by him that all things were created – everything: By him and for him. The Father worked through his Son Jesus to create everything in the splendid form that it is. So every other thing and being – other than God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are here as something that has and finds it’s reason and purpose in the Lord Jesus Christ – nowhere else. So to find where each part fits we need to look first and foremost to him who had a hand in placing it there.

Unfortunately however, that is where most of us come unstuck. We have taught ourselves that we are descendants of monkeys.  We live and act as if much of this world stands separate: that it has no real connection to God or the Christian life. We think that we have to control and manipulate it because it is there purely for our benefit. But not that Lord Jesus Christ stands supreme over all, and that it is only in and under him that it all exists effectively. Creation in whatever form it comes then finds its proper use and purpose as it focuses and works for the glory of its creator.

The same goes for our church and the Christian life. We need to see that Jesus Christ and his death on the cross is central to all that we say and do. This is not just the case in our Sunday worship, but in everything that we do as his people. It has much to say with regard what we believe and practice. In everything Jesus Christ is to be seen and upheld as being what life is all about: He alone is to be glorified.

We will give him that glory not just because he is God and was there at creation and that he is supreme over all things, but also because God through Jesus Christ has restored that relationship that existed at beginning of time but was broken by our disobedience and our desire to do our own thing. Through his death on cross Jesus destroyed that barrier that sin places between God and us. Then his rising again from death gives new hope and new life to all who would have it and the God who stands supreme behind it.

And even though we live in a world suffering as a result of sin we now can have the certainty of knowing that we have been reconciled to God: that we are presented to God perfect – without blemish and fault; not because of ourselves – but the Lord Jesus Christ – to him be glory and honour now and always.

Now then, life begins anew for all who believe: all who trust that Jesus has done everything necessary and that through our baptism we have become part of his body, the church: his family. In and through him we can now find that everything holds together and has a purpose. Now it is possible for us to live as we should be living, [even though we often fail]. Now we can see that life is not meant to be centred on ourselves or on any created thing. Now we are able to see that everything around us is not be used and destroyed simply for our own ends; but instead our whole life can focus on our Lord Jesus and give glory to our God for all he has done.

Now we can also look to his Word, the Bible, and know that we have good directions for our lives. As we listen to what he has to say there and then seek to follow that way, we find a peace and joy in knowing that we are doing that which is good and right. There we find how to leave peaceably and well with God and each other. With that help we are able to love each other in a way that is good and healthy.

As we look to Jesus and what he has done for us through his death and resurrection; and as we seek to follow what he says, we then find that life has meaning, purpose and hope. As we do our work, play or whatever, we do so in a way that we can give glory to our Lord and is good and helpful for us and our life here on earth. Even our money and material possessions; our sport and leisure are gifts to us to be used in order to help us and others keep our focus on him who gives us all our good gifts.

And yes, even as we face difficulty and tragedy we do so knowing that is a result of sin, but also of the fact that our Lord Jesus has defeated its power to hurt and harm us. Even there he uses these to turn us ever back to looking to him as our helper and friend and as the supreme being in whom everything now is held together.  

Therein we will find that it all works together in harmony and it all finds a meaning and a purpose that is good and wholesome. Then, not only will the glory go to where it belongs, but we ourselves will find a far greater sense of peace and belonging; and yes much joy and happiness.

So now especially, we will heed this message and see to it that what we believe and take what he says seriously. Our desire will now be to centre on and focus on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. There now is something that is good and helpful for us as we go forward in life. Then we will also allow this Jesus Christ to be supreme in everything.

So as we complete this church year and then begin another let us remember this important lesson - that it is only in connection with our Lord Jesus Christ that everything holds together. It is all created by him and for him. To him then, be all glory and honour now and always.  AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish