He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers — all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
—Colossians 1:15-20
As we spend this season of Advent waiting for the appearance of Christ, this passage in Colossians tells us who we are waiting for. Paul describes a ‘cosmic Christ’ who is so fantastic that our language can’t be exalted enough to praise him. In him everything will be recreated as everything was created in him. Since Jesus is the “firstborn from the dead” then there will be many born from the dead after him.
I don’t have hope this Advent because of the great work Sojourners is doing here in Washington, D.C., or because I try my hardest to live a righteous and loving life. I only have hope because of this Jesus. Through him, God was pleased to reconcile to God’s self all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
This reconciling work of Christ is difficult to believe in this world of sin and injustice, which is why Christ rose again, giving us a foretaste of peace. This should give us hope in the depth of our despair about our world and our lives: Christ is coming, as he came once, and he will bring a new Heaven and Earth. The taste of true life we have the in the resurrection will be expanded into a rich feast and death will be no more, for the former things will pass away (Rev 21:4).
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Greg Williams is Communications Assistant for Sojourners.
Image: esign36 / Shutterstock.com
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