CHRIST – THE PRE-EMINENT ONE
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 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 the pre-eminence” (Colossians 1:15-18 NKJV).
God desires and demands that Jesus Christ be given preeminent position in human affairs on earth. The Father is honoured whenever the Son is honoured, and not any other way. The Bible is emphatic when it declares, “He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent Him” (John 5:23 NKJV). Many people all through history had tried to come up with a demeaning construct of Jesus in a futile attempt to deny Him the preeminent position the Bible ascribed to Him. However, the Father had decreed that Jesus “in all things will have the pre-eminence.” Our problem in obeying this command begins with our understanding of what is included in the “all things” in which Christ is to have pre-eminence. The scope of the “all things” is clearly defined for us in verse 20, saying, “And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” The “all things” refer to things on earth and things in heaven. The Father has assigned to Jesus the pre-eminent position in heaven and on earth “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10 KJV). The Greek word translated “pre-eminence” is “proteuo.” It means “to be first in rank or influence.” It comes from the root word, “protos” which means “foremost in time, order or importance.” The implication of Christ being preeminent is that He should be the primary influence in our lives and should occupy the first place in our order of priorities. He should be the supreme focus of our lives and nothing else should be allowed to distract us from Him. Whatever does not glorify Him should not occupy our attention.
Jesus deserves preeminence in our lives! He’s the image of God, creator of all things, and head of the church. Let’s give Him the first place in our priorities, dedicating our time, talents, and lives to His glory.
We give Christ pre-eminence in our lives when we dedicate it unreservedly to His glory. Paul declared, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 NKJV). While he lived, he lived to glorify Jesus in every way, and his death would be gain to Christ. The story was told of an artist who masterfully painted the picture of the Lord eating the last supper with His apostles. He invited his friend to take a look at his painting before he displayed it to the public. His friend was full of praise for the beautiful piece of art work he had produced and observed in admiration, “The best part of it is the cup.” On hearing that comment, the artist picked his blush and cleaned off the cup. What are doing? His friend asked in utter shock. The artist replied, “Sir anything that is more prominent than the face of Jesus should not be part of my painting.” How many things and people do you accommodate in your life that completely outshine Jesus in your scheme of things? The best of our time and talent are given to other things and people but never to Jesus. He is usually not the first in anything we do, not even in our worship and prayers. Family, business, church, school work, friends and so many other things are often considered before Him. Yet the Bible commands that in all things Christ must have pre-eminence!
It makes sense that we give Christ pre-eminent place in our lives because He is the reason for our very existence. Paul explains, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:7-8 NKJV). Our lives are so designed that we find meaning only as we live for Christ. Everything on earth and in heaven are created by Him for His pleasure. True fulfillment and joy comes only in living for His pleasure. He is the grand end of our being and all creation for that matter. Hence the Bible declares, “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him” (Colossians 1:16 The Message). If Jesus is not the end for which you live, then the end for which you live will end in endless misery. May you find grace today to resolve to live for Jesus day after day as you join me to sing:
“I live for Jesus day after day, I live for Jesus let come what may,
The Holy Spirit, I will obey, I live for Jesus day after day.”
May it be so for each of us in Jesus name.
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