SUNNY THOUGHTS FROM SUNSET by Rev. Vance Drum 5-18
Sunday was Mother’s Day, and we celebrated all of our mothers.
May they all be blessed, and, if no longer living, may their memories burn brightly in our hearts.
The Sunset pastor on Sunday continued our “Raised with Christ” series with a message, “The Supreme Christ.” The text was from Colossians 1:19: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him.”
Here’s a question: Did you ever experience something that was publicized to be something big, the absolute ultimate, but when you got into it, you discovered it wasn’t what it was cracked up to be?
When you’re traveling, it’s a tourist trap. The billboards may promote it for 100 miles, but when you get there, it’s only trinkets and sparkles, and not much more.
That’s what the problem in the Colossian church was.
The pastor made two points: (1) The Colossian Problem, and (2) The Solution in Christ.
(1) The Colossian Problem. Paul doesn’t spend much time on the problem at Colosse, but rather lifts up Jesus as the answer to some unhealthy teaching. However, Paul does hint at what some of the problem was.
(a) There was an overemphasis on the angelic spirit world, so that he refers to the “worship of angels” (2:18) and says do not let it “disqualify you for the prize.”
(b) Paul talks about outward observances which are only shadows, not realities: “Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”
Some outward observances are important, but not at the expense of devaluing Christ, and certainly not when we rely on the outward observance when our heart is not in it.
(c) Human philosophy is inadequate to satisfy our hungering souls. 2:8: “See that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy… rather than Christ.”
In America today there’s an uptick in unbelief. This has happened before, during the 1700s European Enlightenment [the “Age of Reason”], when faith in God was ridiculed.
But it did not last because no faith is an empty, unsatisfying feeling. We long to fill the God-sized void in our souls with a relationship with our loving Creator.
(2) The Solution in Christ. Paul notes that Jesus is the Man, and the God-Man. He is over all. V19: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,” and 2:9: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” Three points:
(a) Christ is the Creator of all. V16: “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Jesus made it all — the visible earth, and the invisible, but indispensable, air we breathe.
(b) Jesus is the Sustainer of all. V17: “In him all things hold together.” Sometimes even Christians must go through a lonesome valley. People pray for us, and hospitals and counselors may help, but we must walk through it. In those times, God’s people have wonderful Sustainer — Jesus the Christ.
In those times when you feel all alone, when your health, relationships, finances, or a chance incident happens, Jesus is the One who holds you together. Look up to Him. He’ll walk with you.
(c) Jesus is our Reconciler. V20: “Through him to reconcile to himself all things…by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
The world is at war, and always has been, but Jesus breaks down barriers: Jews and Gentiles; Black, White and Brown worship together; former gangsters are one in Christ. His peace blesses the world.
We were blessed to welcome into our Sunset membership on Sunday Paula Owens and her grandson Cody Bledsoe. May the Lord bless them both!
Honor your father and your mother, which is the first commandment with a promise — that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” [Ephesians 6:2-3]
May we duly honor our mothers on Mother’s Day, and every day of the year — our prayer for you from your friends at Sunset Christian Church.