The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Why?"
Part 4 - The Preeminence
"He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).
Creation ever moves toward an order and dominion wherein the Lord Jesus Christ will be known for who He is, namely, the One who serves as the center and circumference of God's "eternal purpose" (Ephesians 3:11). His preeminence serves as the reason for our Father's doings both now and forevermore, and the answer always to why He does what He does.
Presently, the Lord Jesus can be known in the hearts and lives of born again believers as the preeminent One, albeit in limited measure. "We see through a glass darkly" (I Corinthians 13:12). Our view and experience of such truth pales in comparison to that realm in which the glory of the Lord Jesus will be clearly seen in all things. We do see, however, in the bright light of God's Word, and also in the light of God's world as Christ's illumination "shineth in darkness" (John 1:5). "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord" declared the Psalmist (Psalm 33:5). This can only mean that the world is full of Christ, amid the calamity and chaos of the present earthly realm. For those with eyes to see and hearts to believe, the Lord Jesus will be found awaiting us wherever we go, and journeying with us as we go. "I will dwell in them and walk in them" (II Corinthians 6:16)
The foundation in this life for knowing the preeminence of Christ as well as possible involves devotion to the Scriptural affirmation and teaching, and the expectation that our Father will reveal the glory of His Son along the pathways of life. We must understand that everything God does commences, continues, and culminates in shining the brightest possible light on the Lord Jesus. We plant this truth in our hearts as the root of our doctrine. We then seek to be branches of the Vine, bearing leaves and fruit in our countenance, demeanor, attitude, words, and deeds for the glory of Christ. "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" declared the Savior (John 14:9). In like manner, our prayer, hope, and determination by the grace of God is those who see us will see the Son. We exist for this as believers, created by our Father, and redeemed by Him to serve as lamps of the light of Christ, bearing no illumination of our own, but reflecting His. "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord… Thou wilt light my candle" (Proverbs 20:27; Psalm 18:28).
"To live is Christ" wrote the Apostle Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 1:21). This doubtless means more than eternity will fully reveal to our hearts. Of this we can be sure, however, both now and forevermore: we are only truly alive as the Spirit of the Lord Jesus lives in us. And we only view life rightly as we devote ourselves to the preeminence God the Father forever reserves for His Son, and His Son alone. Christ only, Christ always, Christ forever. This ever and forever serves as the primary answer to why God does all that He does. The river of life flows with this current, as directed by the wind of the Spirit. May our Father grant much grace so we may flow with it.
"Unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom."
(Hebrews 1:8)
Weekly Memory Verse
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
(John 8:36)
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