PRAY:

“Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
let it be with me according to your word.”
(Luke 1:38)

READ:

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.
Colossians 1:15-17

“Why daddy?” “Why?” “Why?” I fondly remember those days of my two year old plying me with many “Whys?”. “Why daddy this; why daddy that?” I almost thought his “Whys?” would never end. But we are, after all, born philosophers wanting to make sense of the world. Science at its best can only explain how, but can never explain why. Only God and the Bible can explain the why of life and the world.

Today’s scripture speaks to the why of existence, creation, and life. Paul emphasizes that all things were created IN Christ, THROUGH Christ, and FOR Christ. The weight of Paul’s words falls on that last phrase: all things are created FOR Christ.

This means that everything that exists, including you and me, is for Christ’s sake and for Christ’s purposes. The why question is answered by Christ, and by Him alone. Getting this squared away is the key to finding life and purpose in this world.

Paul puts this a little differently in his letter to the Romans. After surveying Christ’s great work of salvation, he concludes, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36). Nineteenth century preacher Alexander Maclaren wrote adoringly of Christ:

“All things come from and tend towards Him. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending. All things spring from His will, draw their being from that fountain, and return thither again.” (Alexander Maclaren, Colossians)

If the whole universe is headed toward Jesus, that’s right where I want to go!

Later in his letter to the Colossians, Paul says, “Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:11b). God’s eternal purpose is to fill the whole universe with the glory and radiance of His Son. Because Christ is the center and goal of everything, He alone gives meaning and direction to life. Take Christ away, and you take away everything. We live in the radiance of Christ’s birthday all year. He is the Source and Goal of all life!

PONDER:

• What does it mean for you that Jesus is the goal and purpose of everything?
• How do all things being “through Christ and for Him” provide hope and meaning for the world?