What do Genesis 1 and Colossians 1 Have in Common?

Start your day with a short, Scripture-centered devotional from Paul Michael. In about seven minutes, you will hear the Word, reflect on its truth, and be encouraged to live it out in everyday life.

What do Genesis 1 and Colossians 1 Have in Common?

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Transcript

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What does Genesis 1, the first chapter of the Bible, have to do with Colossians 1, one of the Apostle Paul's prison epistles? Well, in Genesis chapter 1, beginning at verse 1, this is the beginning of the Bible. It says, In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light, and God saw the light, that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. I love how the Bible begins. It opens up not with some argument for the existence of God, but just simply stating God created everything. Everything that you see, everything that exists, has its source, its origin, and the creative power of God. And how did God create? And things came to be. Can you imagine? He said, Let there be light, and there was light. Now, this is before, if you follow this account, this is before the sun was made. So what was that light? We don't know. Some think maybe it was just the glory of God that was illuminating a part of his creation as he was just getting things going. The Bible doesn't make that clear, but the point is that the Bible just starts with, God has always been, and he is the one that has made all things that exist. Now, if you hold on to that thought, then we go to Colossians chapter 1. This is one of the prison epistles. So the Apostle Paul, he's in prison, he's trying to strengthen the church at Colossae. He's talking about Christ, Christ's superiority, how Christ has died and purchased them with his blood, providing the forgiveness of sins. And in that context, in Colossians 1, beginning at verse 15, it says, He, that's Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. So when we see Jesus, we see God. We see God in flesh. Now when it says firstborn over all creation, this doesn't mean that Jesus is a part of creation, as if he is a created being. He is eternal God. What it means is, like the firstborn in the Old Testament would have the largest inheritance, this is speaking of Christ's rule and his reign over his creation, that he owns everything, that it belongs to him. And it clarifies that in the following verses. It says, For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth. Okay, so hold on to that. By him all things were created, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. Remember Genesis 1? In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Colossians 1, by him all things were created that are in the heaven and on the earth. Okay. Over all principalities and powers, all things were created through him. So all things were created by Jesus, all things were created through Jesus, and it says, for him. All things were created through him and for him. Then, verse 17, and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. What that's saying is he's holding all things together. You know what holds together the parts of cells that we still don't understand? It's Christ. He's holding his creation together. Then verse 18 says, and he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have preeminence. What Colossians 1 is saying is that Christ is the reason that everything exists. He is the one that made all things, but basically by, through, and for all things were made. Okay? And he holds everything together presently. So if you take away Jesus, everything falls apart. So when we take Genesis 1 and these verses from Colossians 1, we see that Jesus is eternal God who has always been, that in the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, Jesus was there and he was that agent of creation that as God was speaking, that Jesus was speaking, and this world and everything we know came to be. We don't serve a God who one day was the Father, another day is the Son, and then is the Spirit. We serve a God who is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, three and yet one. He is the maker of all things, and He presently holds all things together, and that includes your life. Whatever is going on in your life, whether you acknowledge him as God or not, He's the one that's holding everything together. He is the one, His grace sustains you. Even in the hardest times of your life, even if you're kicking and screaming against him, he's the one that's holding you together. And the Bible also teaches that one day we will give an account to him. He's not only the creator of all things, but one day he will judge all things. He will judge his creation. But now he has also come as the Savior to all who will believe in him. Jesus invaded his creation. He took on the flesh of man, coming into time and space, dwelling among us, living a perfect, sinless life, so that he could take our sin, our wrongdoing, the things that separate us from God, the things that make us the object of God's wrath. Our rebellion against God, Jesus took it on himself. He died on a cross in our place. He took the penalty for our sin, our wrongdoing. He died, he rose again from the grave, and we have the promise, as he now sits at the right hand of the Father, that he will give eternal life to all who believe in him. Who repent, turn from their way, whatever else you're trusting in, turn from your sin. Turn from these things that are holding you back. Look to Jesus. Believe in him as the Savior God has provided, and you will have everlasting life. You will know the forgiveness of sins. You will go God's way from that day forward, knowing Jesus not only as the one who is holding everything together, but the one who is leading you day by day, moment by moment, into the life He has prepared for you. So that's what Genesis 1 and Colossians 1 have to do with one another. I pray this has been a blessing to you today, and I hope you have a great rest of your day.