“ARE WE THE IMAGE THAT WE SHOULD BE”

COLOSSIANS 1:15-17 (KJV) “Who is the image of the invisible GOD, the first born of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by HIM, and for HIM: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

Now I want to read 2 more verses, that help Paul to prove his point of who this “JESUS” was, this man (GOD-MAN) who was born in the virgin womb of a “lowly” or “poor and common” girl, or at least she was in the eyes of those people of that day, but in GOD’s eyes she was “HIGHLY FAVORED”, never look upon the outside of someone and think that you know what GOD thinks of that person. GOD reads and knows what is on the inside of the person or what their HEART is like. We should also look at people through GOD’s EYES, so we can see them the way GOD sees them.

1 John 1:1-2 (KJV) “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the WORD of LIFE; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the FATHER, and was manifested unto us;)”  

John 1:1-5 (KJV) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was GOD. The same was in the beginning with GOD. All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made. In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Now I want to give you an example of what I am talking about, by reading to you the next 3 verses of John 1:6-8 (KJV) please follow along with your Bible or read the text prayerfully.

John 1:6-8 (KJV) “There was a man sent from GOD, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.” Of course this verse is talking about John the Baptist. What I want us to see in these verses is that GOD uses people that you wouldn’t think that HE would or could use, so that you will, or should, listen more closely. How is John the Baptist described in the Bible? He is described as wearing clothes of camel’s hair, and living on locusts and wild honey. When you get a chance, read or reread Matthew 3:4 (KJV) “And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.” And you can confirm this by also reading Mark 1:6 (KJV).

The Apostle Paul used some very strange words to try and paint a picture of GOD to these “Born Again” believers in Colossae. Like the word IMAGE, why would he use some of these words, well let me try to explain why by using more scripture: You see GOD is invisible: Let me read you the first part of verse 15 of our text when talking about JESUS: “Who is the image of the invisible GOD…” The Greek word for invisible means the exact same thing that our present day word means, and that is simply, “NOT SEEN”.

Please listen to what the Apostle John wrote in John 1:18 (KJV) “No man hath seen GOD at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared HIM.” and then the Apostle John also reiterated this statement in his first epistle when he wrote in: 1 John 4:12 (KJV) “No man hath seen GOD at any time. If we love one another, GOD dwells in us, and HIS love is perfected in us.” The words “declared” and “perfected” in the Greek mean to fully tell and unfold an “IMAGE” or a “PICTURE”.

The picture that our “LIVES”, and “ACTIONS”, when we “LOVE ONE ANOTHER” and LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR” should paint that same “IMAGE” or “Picture” that the APOSTLE PAUL is talking about to these Colossians. Men of that era, or time frame, had never seen GOD, and men of our era or time frame, have never seen GOD, so we must, and let me emphasize that by reiterating that statement, “WE MUST” paint them a picture or IMAGE by “WALKING WORTHY” such as I preached and taught about in the 10th verse of Colossians the 1st chapter. Also in the 16th verse of chapter 1 Paul said that everything, and I mean everything that was “CREATED” was done so “By HIM and  For HIM”. Think on that, JESUS the 2nd person of the TRIUNE GODHEAD was with GOD in the “BEGINNING”, then HE came to this sin-laden earth to “DIE” for you, then resurrected HIMSELF and went back to be yours, mine and the whole “BODY OF CHRIST” the CHURCH’s “INTERCESSOR”.

With an “INFLUENCE” like that sitting at the “RIGHT HAND” of GOD, HOW CAN WE FAIL! HOW CAN WE SIT BACK AND NOT WORK FOR HIM? LET US, AS PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST CONTINUE TO BEAR FRUIT FOR OUR CREATOR AND OUR SAVIOR!!!!

I hope that you as a part of the Body of Christ will be that “IMAGE”, will be that PICTURE, that the LOST WORLD can see, and will cause them to want to become like “YOU” and Trust JESUS as their SAVIOR and become a NEW CREATURE.