All Things Were Created By Jesus, For Jesus—Colossians 1:16
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him” (Colossians 1:16)
One of the great things about the New Testament is that it brings further explanation and understanding to the accounts in the Old. Beginning at a young age, I remember learning from the creation story how God created everything. But one thing that was a surprise for me, that I never learned in Sunday School class, was that Jesus was the One who brought creation into being. God spoke the Word of Creation (Genesis 1) and Jesus was the Word spoken, the creative form, through whom everything came into existence (John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:15-17; Revelation 4:11).
Creation Was God’s Way of Introducing Himself
“The heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4)
God created a beautiful world, a paradise. He created the universe with such extravagance that its expanse reaches far beyond our imagination. The existence of the farthest galaxy can only be assumed while the same can be said about the smallest particles that make up life. Science continues to further discover the building blocks of life, when even in this lifetime, it was assumed to be an atom. God went to such detail in creation, that when He put humanity in the middle as the crowning jewel of what was created, we would know there was a Creator (Romans 1:19-20).
Jesus is Lord Over Creation
“I was the craftsman at his side, I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind” (Proverbs 8:30-31).
Since Jesus was the One to create everything, Jesus holds the distinct honor of being the One to redeem everything as well. Before any of it existed, Jesus was chosen to reconcile the world He would create back to God and back to His original intent in creation (Colossians 1:19-22; II Timothy 1:9-10; Titus 1:2; I Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8). The fall of mankind did not, in any way, catch God off guard. He knew it would happen and chose to do it anyway because of Jesus’ willingness to redeem it. Which is why everything was created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). Because of this, Jesus holds the distinct position in the universe as Savior and Lord.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11).
Jesus Has Reconciled Everything Back To God
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 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” (Colossians 1:19-20).
Not only did Jesus reconcile creation back to God, but He reconciled you as well. His sacrifice on the cross was more than enough to restore you to God’s original purpose in creating you. Christ now presents you to God the Father, perfect, completed, without blemish and free from any accusation that might accuse you (Colossians 1:22). He has reconciled you, but your responsibility in this is to be reconciled (II Corinthians 5:18-20). He gives you the choice…
Today, I pray that the truth of Jesus as Savior and Lord, penetrates your heart to confirm the still small voice speaking to you. I pray that you will be reconciled to God through the person of Jesus Christ. And that your life will declare God’s glory to all around you the same way that His creation displays it.