the image of the invisible: a meditation

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.     

 (Colossians 1:15)

 

     We live in a world that is visible. That makes it easy for us to default to a way of thinking that only includes the things we can see. We get caught up in our plans, our activities, and our day-to-day life, forgetting that there is such a thing as the invisible. After all, the physical surrounds us and we are constantly reminded it’s there, from such a simple act as holding a warm mug in our hands, to trusting a chair without a second thought. Take the time to ponder this question: Do you trust the invisible God with as much confidence as you do your physical surroundings?

     The invisible God was the first cause of our visible world. What is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3) God trancends our earthly views of him. We can never fully comprehend the mystery of creation. But what God’s word says is true. God created us and he had a plan for this Earth, to redeem his people. He did that by becoming visible.

     God became man. Jesus Christ, the Lord of the universe, shaper of the stars, became a dependent baby, became human, became visible. He lived in this physical world. He got hungry, thirsty, tired, just like us. The Lord of all was crucified by his creation, spit upon by soldiers, mocked by the multitude. For us. He showed us what love our God has towards us. Love that is selfless and pure. Love that leaves the throne room of heaven for helpless sinners! If Jesus hadn’t come in the flesh, we wouldn’t know what the love of God is. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us. (1 John 3:16)

     The truth that the Lord of the universe became flesh and walked the earth should change the way we live in this world. To know that he went before us should give us confidence that he will help us navigate this life, and ultimately, bring us home to where he is. But most of all, it should make us as sure of God as we are of this physical world. Jesus came to Earth to show us who God is. To show us that there is so much more to life than our surroundings. So no matter what happens on Earth, We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Cor 4:18)