Midweek Message from the Archive
The Vital Connection
Picture this. You’re with a group of new believers in a totally pagan city. A letter is being read from someone you’ve never met but your heart is stirred. This guy seems to really care about my life. That’s the essence of Colossians 2.
Paul continued his letter by repeating that Christ is their vital connection to God. He encouraged them to stay in unity through their love for each other. That’s something new. Loving your neighbor as yourself? Praying for your enemies? Forgiving, even when they’re wrong? New perspectives, for sure.
Wisdom is making the right decision at the right time. Don’t we all need this in our lives? Knowledge is having the right information to make that decision. Paul explained that both are found in Christ. The good news is that as a believer you have access to both wisdom and knowledge because of your vital connection to Him. He is God and He lives in the heart of a person who trusts Him with their life. That’s a mystery but stay with me.
We’re confronted with world views every day, some good, some bad. As you watch TV, whether its FOX or CNN for news, The View for entertainment, or simply some Facebook posts, the influence is unmistakable. Paul is warning us to stay on track, grow in faith, and stay connected to God.
What are some perspectives that sound good but don’t line up with the Bible. Consider these:
“There are many roads to heaven, many ways to God.”
“Go ahead and do it; you deserve it.”
“Everyone will be saved; God wouldn’t damn anyone to hell!”
“There is no hell, you just cease to exist.”
I could go on but I think you get the point. Paul warns us to watch out for these well-crafted arguments and these empty philosophies and check your belief system with scripture. Are there many roads to heaven? No, Jesus said He is the only way to the Father. Sounds exclusive, it is. Don’t get mad at me; I’m just telling you the truth. Should you go ahead and do whatever you want because you deserve it? The Bible tells us we deserve punishment. Without Christ that’s what we’ll get. Will everyone be saved in the end? Jesus said you must believe in your heart and your actions will show it: not everyone will humble themselves before God.
That may all sound like bad news to you but it’s really good news. Jesus Christ left His throne in heaven to become like us so that we could become like Him. We have the opportunity to be vitally connected to God, our sinful nature cut away like a circumcision, and possess the same power over the devil that Jesus had. Now that’s good news!
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Colossians 2:6-7a NLT
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