I am pondering a great mystery, one that I find I cannot grasp with my mind and am trying to understand with my heart. The mystery is Jesus: Jesus, God’s son, and yet fully God and yet fully man. This Jesus is the one who died for us and yet is the same Jesus in whom ALL the fullness of God dwells.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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. 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 1:15–20, NIV84)
This is Jesus who created all things including me. This is Jesus who created me for Him. This is Jesus who holds my life together. Yes—He is holding my life together even when I think it is falling apart. This is Jesus who is Lord and supreme over everything. This is Jesus who is Lord over my life and over every circumstance of my life. ALL the fullness of God, All the wisdom of God, ALL the power of God, ALL the presence of God, ALL the holiness of God, ALL the Love of God, ALL the compassion of God, ALL of GOD is in Jesus. A relationship with Jesus is a relationship with God. Imagine that…. God spending time with me…..
That in itself is mind boggling…. But there is more….
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:21–23, NIV84)
The word alienated means to be a stranger, someone who does not belong. The word reconciled means to being back to the former state of harmony. Now I must consider that through the cross I fully belong and dwell with God in a perfect state of harmony. The dictionary says harmony is unity, peace and friendship. Imagine that, God wants me as His friend.
Consider what this harmony, friendship and reconciliation truly means. “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27, NIV84) Christ is in me. The fullness of God, is in me. All the wisdom of God is in me. All the power of God is in me. All the eternity of God is in me. All the supremacy of God – the everlasting God – is in me. Is it even possible to grasp this idea, this mystery with our natural minds? I think this is a truth we must embrace with our hearts because my natural mind, created by God cannot comprehend that God and all that God is, dwells in me through faith in Christ. This is the mystery. Christ is in us (me). ALL of the fullness of God is in Christ. Therefore, ALL of the fullness of God is in me. WOW! Think about that for the rest of eternity.
Think about what that means.
Is anything too hard for God? All things are possible for God (Mark 10:27). Is God subject to our circumstances? Is there anything God does not understand? Job struggled with huge questions on the meaning of his life and God revealed His nature to Job. “”Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?” (Job 40:7–9, NIV84) The response of Job demonstrated awe and humility. “”I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”” (Job 42:2–6, NIV84)
What this means is this: Therefore, everything I do, I can do in the strength and in the fullness of the power of God. Where ever I am, God is. And where ever I am, whatever I do, I must do to the glory of God in the power of God for the purpose of God. “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” (Colossians 1:28–29, NIV84)
Do you feel like you are in a prison? Really??? Can anyone chain and imprison God? Paul understood this and made what looked like a prison into a church. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.” (Acts 16:25–34, NIV84)
Do you feel like your circumstances are out of control? Really? Is there anything beyond the control of God? Consider the storm Paul faced. “After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”” (Acts 27:21–26, NIV84)
Do you feel like your life has no meaning? How can God in you dwell in you not be a life of no meaning? Is it enough to just be with Him and live with Him? Is it not the purpose of God that our lives are reconciled to Him? “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6–7, NIV84) Our purpose is never measured by man’s accomplishment. Our purpose is measured by Christ in us working out His purpose. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV84)
Do you feel alone and forgotten? Is it not enough to have ALL of God in you? Perhaps the season of solitude is a time where God Himself is conforming you into the image of His son. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29, NIV84)
A life surrendered to God in me can never be a life without purpose or destiny. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37–39, NIV84)
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