It Is All For Him

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/wxqlI)

“For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him—and He is before all things and by Him all things consist.”

Colossians 1:16-17

It’s amazing what happens when we realize Who He is and what He has done.

“How big’s your God?”

That’s the implied, underlying question being asked in today’s Manna.  Ponder those words once again:  “For BY Him were all things created.”  Since the One being focused on in these verses is Jesus, we can safely conclude that He—the second Person in the Godhead—is the One Who created all that is.  And, again, don’t let your mind get bogged down in perplexity in trying to understand the Mystery of the Trinity.



Instead, “be still and know that He is God” (Ps. 46:10).

Focus, instead, on the implications of these words “For by Him were all things created.”  Close your eyes and envision His speaking everything into existence.  Picture His reaching down into the dust He created and tenderly fashioning the first man, whom He named Adam.  Try to imagine His fashioning all of the galaxies, solar systems, the stars, the sun and moon, etc., out of nothing. . .and setting them in their rightful places. . .spinning at just the right speed to maintain their orbits. . .and then saying, “Why I think I’ll create you in your mother’s womb” (Ps. 139).



Sort of blows you out of the water, doesn’t it?

And, it certainly reminds you of just how great He is.  Glory!!



Yet, our great God didn’t do this to impress us.  He didn’t create, name and number all those zillions of stars to boggle our minds; yet, He did create them to remind us of His “glory and handiwork” (Ps. 19:1).  And, He did create all that is to remind us of just how special we are in His sight and how much He loves us.



Again, kind of blows your mind, doesn’t it?

Assuredly it does.



Likewise, when we read the words “All things were created by Him and FOR Him” and “by Him all things consist,” we can only bow our heads, close our eyes and whisper, “Thank You, Lord.”  Yes, dear Pilgrim, you were created FOR Him. . .for HIS pleasure, not yours. . .to be used by Him as He sees fit. . .a conduit of His blessings, not a reservoir.



And, when everything’s falling apart and we’re tempted to despair, He reminds us it’s “by HIM that all things consist (Grk. ‘sunistao’—‘are strengthened, held together, sustained, etc.’).”  Or, another way to put it is, “By Him and His Grace we’re held in place and glued together.”  Hallelujah!!



The key to all of this is remembering “He’s the Head” (v.18a); we’re not.  And, “in all things HE must have the preeminence” (v.18c); not us.  Why not spend some time today reflecting on these wonderful truths and then share them with someone else?  Who knows?  It might make an eternal difference in their lives even as it has in ours.

By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated June 19, 2010