Holy Name 3.1.16 The centrality of Christ
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. He 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 first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Col 1,15-20)
This passage bears out how important Jesus Christ is; how central to the plans by which the world runs.
Some people say the world just happened along by itself, without being created or designed.
Our belief is very different. We say that the whole thing has been planned in the mind of God. And planned in such a way that even the things that have gone wrong (because of sin) have been accounted for. Christ is at the centre of all reality.
He is not just another person. And He did not start just another religion. He is uniquely the only Creator and Saviour, the one in whom we dwell, the means by which we reach salvation.
He is not an option, a peripheral figure that we can take or leave.
We rely on Him for everything. To say we don’t need Him would be like the branch saying it does not need the tree, or the fish saying it does not need water.
Whenever we think we can get by on our own we have forgotten where we came from.
We cannot do anything except by God’s permission, not even breathe! The people that deny Him can do that only because He lets them. And He lets them so they might make use of the extra time to repent – as many have done over the years.
We cannot do this thing on our own. We cannot get ourselves to Heaven. We cannot bring ourselves back to life.
Only God can put the spirit back in the body. And only God can restore holiness to the spirit.
So we acknowledge the name of God, the whole significance He has. He is there at the start and the finish, and every point in between.
Many try to build a world without God, and they go to great lengths to try to keep Him out,
But they cannot stop Him from existing, or from having the ultimate importance which He has.
So they rage against Him, in demonic style. This is why there is so much blasphemy.
He is worth hating if He is not loved. The fact that His name is cursed more than any other bears out His centrality.
To have Him or not have Him is the difference between life and death, Heaven and Hell.
So we come in at this point and do all we can to honour Him, to realize His importance; to make Him known to others.
We submit, like the wise men, and kneel before the Saviour.
And then we discover how it all fits in. Once we acknowledge His sovereignty and supremacy, it all becomes clearer.
Every knee shall bend before Him. We do so now, and willingly.
At least if His disciples can be clearer about His importance it gives everyone else a better chance of realizing it.
And when it comes to prayer what doors will open when we realize how explosively powerful is His Name.
When we utter that Name, with full awareness, we are calling upon all the power and love in the Universe. Good things will happen, even if we are not sure what they will be.
We long for the day when He will be recognized in all His glory.
In the meantime, Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name!
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