The Preeminence of Christ

Col.1:12-18 - Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And 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.
The western church has lost the Christ. We are obsessed with many, many things. We obsess over the sins of the lost; we obsess over church buildings; We obsess over earthly success; We obsess over this nation; We obsess over moral causes; We obsess over certain preachers; We obsess over church programs; We obsess over foreign policy; We obsess over romance in marriage; We obsess over politics; We obsess over holidays; We obsess over church membership; We obsess over cars; We obsess over clothes; We obsess over makeup; We obsess over sports; We obsess over fitness; We obsess over vitamins; We obsess over heretics.
We are obsessed, alright. But why are we not obsessed over the Lord Jesus Christ? Where is the observable preeminence that He should have in all things? Why have we made Christianity a religious system rather than a lifestyle that is unswerving in its commitment to serving, following, and worshiping Christ? Is He before all things just in the doctrinal abstract, or is He before all things in the practical manifestations of our lives?
We have not only had our sins forgiven through Him, but we have also been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the glorious kingdom of God’s Dear Son! And is it not reasonable to expect that citizens of that kingdom manifest a startling difference from the citizens of darkness? How is it that our lives are not so arresting, so conspicuous, and so remarkable that those without Christ are constantly confronted with the claims of Christ through the distinctiveness of our lives, to say nothing of our verbal witness?
Paul tells us that Jesus is the very image of the invisible God, and we as His imitators and His living lanterns are to present Him through word and deed. This does not mean just doing some things He might do, but it is substantively more than that. It is serving Him by being Him. It is being crucified with Him so that our lives are now lived by the faith of Him. This is no easy task, and it takes uncommon commitment. We must sacrifice our thoughts and desires and embrace His as our own. And although the sacrifice is great, the reward is much greater.
Paul tells us that Christ is the head of the church. That doesn’t mean just in doctrine. Oh no, doctrine is where He begins. The revelation of Jesus Christ as prophesied in the Old Testament and revealed fully in the New Testament is our foundation. How many believers are under the delusion that defending the doctrines about Christ seems to be the Great Commission? But we are not following doctrines; We are following the Living and Risen Christ! If it seems like semantics to you then I would urge you to retreat to a prayer closet and seek His face.
The importance of Scripture is undeniable, and the Spirit guided interpretation of that Scripture is foundational. But how many have pitched their tents there, constructed a doctrinal fort, and spend most of their spiritual energy defending that fort against all foes? But our Lord commanded us to go outside the camp, bearing His reproach and spreading the good news of redemption.
Col.3:3-4 - For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Notice those words, “Christ, who is our life…”. This much more than just aligning yourself with an orthodox interpretation of Scriptures concerning Christ. This goes way further than reciting the Apostle’s or Nicene Creed. This requires sacrifice and painful self denial. This is a calling to the mystery of the cross and its application to our own lives. This is a calling to die, and allow Him to live in your place. This must be a passion, an obsession, to walk in His steps. And that, my friends, transcends this “do’s and don’t’s” Christianity that does little more than satisfy the flesh.
The western church desperately needs to once again focus and become obsessed with Jesus Christ. Our first love has become a doctrinal tenant and has been relegated to little more than a rubber stamp that identifies us as a different religion from Muslims and Jews, but does not burn within the church with such incandescence that even sinners might take notice that we “have been with Jesus”. (Acts 4:13) If we desire to be known for our moral convictions and our doctrinal orthodoxy, we can sleep well with the knowledge of that accomplishment.
But if we desire to live in the unmistakable revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ every single day, well then, we have a cross to keep and “miles to go before we sleep, and miles to go before we sleep“.