Nothing & No one is separated from God.  This is a simple fact.  There is however the illusion that one can feel separated, but that illusion is only in the mind.  It has taken me a long time to see this, and when I did see it, it took me a long time to admit it out loud.  I was forced to go look at what the Scriptures say, Scriptures I had not really zoomed in on and/or pondered their profound meaning.  Upon doing so I realized that my historical lens greatly impacts my perspective on God and on Christ our creator.   My theology had been shaped by my Bible College & Seminary teachers, Pastors and individuals who have spoken into my life.

So today, on the topic of ‘separation anxiety’, which I think evangelicalism and the entire Western church is obsessed with, I want to encourage everyone one to carefully and slowly read the Scripture verses in this blog.

Here are THREE different translations of the same text, read them all slowly and carefully, mediate on the BOLD text and see what the Holy Spirit may show you.  When you are done, watch the SPECIAL video below for some very serious encouragement!!!  Lastly, go through the short list of questions, they will help you in understanding TOMORROW’S blog.

Colossians 1

Christ Holds It All Together – THE MESSAGE

15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.  18-20 He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. 21-22 You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence.

Christ Is Supreme – NLT

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.  Everything was created through him and for him.  7 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.  18 Christ is also the head of the church,  which is his body.  He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.  So he is first in everything.  19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth  by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. 21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

THE MIRROR BIBLE – Francois Du Toit

1:15  In him the image and likeness of God is made visible in human life in order that every one may recognize their true origin in him. He is the firstborn of every creature. (What darkness veiled from us he unveiled. In him we clearly see the mirror reflection of our original life. The son of his love gives accurate evidence of his image in human form. God can never again be invisible!) 1:16  Everything that is begins in him whether in the heavenly realm or upon the earth, visible or invisible, every order of justice and every level of authority, be it kingdoms or governments, principalities or jurisdictions; all things were created by him and for him. 1:17  He is the initiator of all things therefore everything finds its relevance and its true pattern only in him. 1:18  The ekklesia (church) is the visible expression (body) of which Jesus is the head. He is the principle rank of authority who leads the triumphant procession of our new birth out of the region of the dead. His pre-eminent rank is beyond threat. (“ … leading the resurrection parade” —The Message) 1:19  The full measure of everything God has in mind for man indwells him. (“So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding.” — The Message) 1:20  He initiated the reconciliation of all things to himself. Through the blood of the cross God restored the original harmony. His reign of peace now extends to every visible thing upon the earth as well as those invisible things which are in the 1heavenly realm. (The heavens, 1ouranos, a place of elevation, from oros, a mountain, from airo, to lift, to raise, to elevate,  “Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe, people and things, animals and atoms, get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death.” — The Message. ) 1:21  Your indifferent mind-set alienated you from God into a lifestyle of annoyances, hardships, and labors. Yet he has now fully 2reconciled and restored you to your original design. (The word, 1poneros, means annoyances, hardships, and labors, often translated as evil. [See Septuagint: tree of knowledge of good and hard labor!] To reconcile: 2apokatallasso, fully restored to the original value. [In Thayer Definition: to change, exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value.])  1:22  He accomplished this in dying our death in a human body; he fully represented us in order to fully present us again in blameless innocence, face-to-face with God; with no sense of guilt, suspicion, regret, or accusation; all charges against us are officially cancelled.

Mike Zenker

QUESTIONS FOR THE DAY

1. Did Jesus create everything?
2. Where is creation now?  (it is IN CHRIST)
3. Is there anything outside of Christ?
4. Even if the Western/Augustinian picture of hell is true, was it created?  If so, who holds it together?
5. Can you see now that there is NOTHING and NO PERSON separated from God?

VERSE FOR THE DAY

Colossians 1:16-17  Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

VIDEO FOR THE DAY

Lamin: Louis Giglio –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0-NPPIeeRk  

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help my mind to see the greatness of your power in creation.  Show me how you really do hold all things and all people together.  Allow my mind to comprehend that your love really does not have any limits, and that it reaches all of your creation.