The pre-eminence of Christ (IV)

'The pre-eminence of Christ (IV)'

— Colossians 1: 18

Throughout the endless ages of eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ will have the pre-eminence, When all creation is brought to bow at the feet of Christ and acknowledge him as rightful Lord of the universe, God will be glorified (Col. 1:20; Phil. 2:9-1 1; I Cor. 15:24-28). In fulfillment of his last engagement as our Surety in the covenant of grace, the God-man Mediator will present all the universe to the triune God, and in all the universe God will be glorified, God will be all in all as the enthroned Christ reigns for ever and ever in the infinite splendor and majesty of his righteousness and glory.

What the sun is to our solar system, Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, is to heaven and eternity. He is the center of heaven, the light of heaven, the life of heaven, the strength of heaven and the joy of heaven. Withdraw the sun from our solar system, and everything would be darkness, destruction and death. Withdraw Christ from heaven, and heaven itself would be hell! In heaven Christ is, and for ever shall be pre-eminent, because for all eternity Christ is all! Christ is for ever all our reward, all our joy, all our peace and all our love. In heaven’s eternal bliss, Christ alone will fill our vision and Christ alone will have our praise (Rev. 4:9-1 1; 5:9-13). This is the ultimate end for which God said in the beginning, ‘Let there be light.’ This world was created by God, so that ‘in all things he [the Lord Jesus Christ] might have the pre-eminence’.

As God the Father has given the Son alone pre-eminence, so must we. Let us honor the one true and living God in all things. There is only one way for us to do so. We must honor the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:23-24). When I acknowledge my sin and my need of Christ, I honor him (Psa. 51:1-5; 1 John 5:7-10). When I trust Christ alone as my all-sufficient Substitute, I honor him (John 3:36). When I bow and surrender to Christ as my rightful, sovereign Lord, I honor him (Matt. 10:36-39). When I confess Christ before men, I honor him (Matt. 10:27-33). God delights to give his Son the preeminence. And God delights in those who give Christ alone preeminence in all things.