“For in Christ all the fullness of the
Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is
the head over every power and authority.”
Colossians
2:9-10
I misplace things. Occassionally. It isn’t a normal thing for me so I tend to
get a little freaky and OCDish when I do.
I will obsessively search every corner of the planet to unearth whatever
is lost. I just like things in their
place where they should be (this can sometimes include people). Life seems right and normal then. This is me.
Just recently I
misplaced my keys and I have absolutely no clue where they are. I searched everywhere but to no avail. I retraced my steps, searched my house, and
asked every single person I know. I have
even accused innocent ones that perhaps there is some kind of hiding joke that
was being played out at my expense.
Nope. Nothin. Troubling just troubling. My OCD is on high alert and won’t back
down. I am feeling freakish.
What mostly
troubles me though, is not that my house keys are in someone else’s hands, for
if they really want to go to the trouble of entering my home and dealing with
the 100 pound wolf like dog that keeps vigilance, then have at it. But on my
key chain was a fob that entitled me to one free Godiva chocolate every month. Yeah I am miffed. Take my stuff but not my chocolate. I can’t tell you how it steams me that
someone could actually be getting chocolate that rightly belongs to me.
By misplacing my
keys, I have put myself in a somewhat vulnerable position. You see, symbolically and scripturally, keys
and authority go hand in hand. While
authority means power, keys are a representation of that power. In order to retain the authority over my
stuff, I had to change the locks. I
needed keys to reestablish my authority over my home. If I didn’t I would just be handing my
authority and power over to whoever felt brave enough to pass the threshold of
my home. Unfortunately, there isn’t
anything I can do about the Godiva fob.
Drat!
In Colossians
2:9-10, Paul is warning the recipients to remain alert. He is basically cautioning them against
misplacing something that they already have.
Paul is stressing to the Colossians that all they really need is already
theirs. As we already discussed, the Gnostics
were attempting to convince this young church that they needed something other
than Christ for complete spiritual fullness.
Paul is telling them unequivocally no!
“You have been given fullness in Christ.”
Paul also
carefully and clearly points out that the one in whom they have it all in, also
has all power and authority. I think
we can conclude from this verse that the enticement the Gnostics were promoting
had to do with some other power and authority outside of Christ. Paul is
warning the Colossians to not trust in anything other than Christ. While this power and authority might appear
to have strength, Paul is staunchly reminding them that it doesn’t. Jesus is supreme and above every power.
Which poses the
question. What power or authority could
we be chasing after apart from Christ? A
power or authority that is less than Christ but we feel we need apart from
Christ. What have we given keys of
authority and power to in our lives, that is not Christ? What would be your answer to the following
statement? If I have just this thing
plus Jesus, my life will be complete. Here might be some possible answers:
1)
A
person – friend, husband, child, pastor, teacher, doctor, parent.
2)
A
place – your home, your workplace, your church.
3)
A
thing – money, money, money, food, alcohol, education, health, bad run of
circumstances, etc.
4)
An
emotion – need to be loved, fear, anxiety, bitterness, anger, insecurity.
5)
A
habit – that is the way I have always done it.
Have any of these
things been given improper authority or power in you life? Do they rule you or does Christ? Do they motivate your every decision? Do they
cause you undo anxiety and unrelenting burden? Do they distract you from
Christ? If so, then why submit to
something that has no real power or authority?
All earthly power and authority submits to Christ. It is limited but He is limitless.
Much like my
misplaced house keys, have we misplaced the keys to Christ’s authority in our
lives? Is the authority that rules your
life now in someone or something else’s control? Why not give it back to the only one who has
any real power and authority in your life?
The one who loves you extravagantly and perfectly. The one who loved you enough to pay the price
so that you might live with him forever.
Who or what lesser authority has ever done that?
Spend a few
minutes watching this short video from Priscilla Shirer. She does a great job reminding us of the
power and authority that is found in our Jesus.
(I apologize in advance if you are an Oprah fan J)
Be blessed!
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