Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation…For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.
— Colossians 1:15-20
Our family loves watching movies. Each of us has our own personal preferences as to what kind, but pop a bag of popcorn and we’re all in.
One of the genres I enjoy is the “Who did it?” movies. I love trying to figure out the mystery before the characters do.
However, more often than not, I’m clueless until the climactic reveal at the end of the movie.
On occasion, I want to know who it is so badly I just can’t wait and look it up online.
In Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, Paul wanted to make absolutely sure they were not left completely in the dark about who Jesus is.
There were many traveling teachers throwing out all kinds of interesting ideas about Jesus, and the church needed to be prepared and/or corrected. Correction equals protection.
Here Paul lays it out, “Christ is …” His answer to the “Who is Jesus?” question is nothing short of divine.
If we are confused, misinformed or underinformed about the person of Jesus, we are in trouble at the most fundamental of levels.
If we say we are a “Jesus-follower,” just exactly who are we following? What would we tell someone who asks, “Why does Jesus’ death on a cross two thousand years have any significance for our lives today?”
The answer is rooted in his identity. How prepared are we to answer the question “Who is Jesus?”
Ready or not?
For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
— I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
Our 3-year-old granddaughter is now “all in” when it comes to playing hide-and-seek.
It’s quite entertaining.
She’ll hide in the same place as we did the time before or keep hiding in the same spot over and over again like it’s the first time.
It gets even better when the dogs want to play, too.
They apparently don’t understand the rules to wait till you count to 10 to start looking.
My granddaughter tries very passionately to explain that to them.
Her counting is another variable.
It’s 1, 2 and then she starts moving toward you all the way to 10.
“Ready or not, here I come!”
The church in Thessalonica, not unlike all of us, was troubled by its questions.
People of the church were watching friends and family die and were wondering what happened to them.
They were concerned that they were going to miss out on Jesus’ return!
Yikes!
Paul reassured them, telling them their loved ones who had died were not only not going to miss out, but they would actually get picked up by Jesus first!
That being said, he then told them Jesus’ arrival will come unexpectedly. Suddenly.
His counsel was straightforward and clear. Be ready.
Jesus told the disciples that only the Father knows the time of his return.
He told parables encouraging the exact same thing that Paul said.
Be prepared.
Be alert.
Set your heart and mind on things above.
John tells us to live in such a way that we will not shrink back at his return, but rather we will have confidence and joy when he comes.
The emphasis on Jesus’ return is not so much the when, but more the condition of our heart when he does.
Do we know him?
Are we living in pursuit of him? Are we living in obedience?
He’s coming back.
Ready or not?
Wiles is senior minister of Fall Creek Christian Church in Pendleton. He can be reached at 765-778-3166.