He Is Before All

"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Colossians 1:17 KJV

Paul continues to inform all as to the true identity of God's Son; this Jesus Christ who lives in us through the Holy Spirit. When we review much of what Paul has written in the New Testament, he is always moving our thinking from ourselves to our glorious King. He is not leaving any stone unturned here about who and what Jesus is.

This seems like a simple statement and is often lost in the maize of these marvelous truths.
The first item mentioned is that He is before all things. This carries with it the idea of being in front or at the head of. He is "pros" (GK) or the first or in front.... you get the idea. No matter what else our Father wants us to see and understand, Jesus is "pros," He is the first thing to see and He is the first thing to understand. In all the glories our Father can and could show us, none are greater nor more brilliant that His Son, Jesus our Lord. Whatever else Christianity is, or we think it to be, this is what it is - Jesus Christ. He is in all and through all - it is Him. Nothing else is of consequence - just Him.

Then the next item of truth "...by him all things consist." The word "consist" is a bit strange to us. It means (in the GK) "combine." I think of two things that do not "combine" - oil and water. They may for a few moments adhere, but then they immediately return to being separate - even through they may be in the same place. These two items just do not mix. However, the word used here is the word meaning He can blend, or combine all. So not only do all things exist in His power and by His will, they actually combine to give glory to God. He works all things well. I am reminded of Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This is His combining ability - all things consist in and by Him.

We have the substance of this throughout the New Testament. But here these two statements are making it very clear that our lives are to be primarily focused on and relating to our Lord Jesus Christ. Our ways of relating to others will find their source here - in His person and presence. Thank you Lord for reminding us of our call to primarily focus in You.