Colossians 1:21-29

In the name of Jesus, who’s given us the “one thing needful,” dear fellow recipients of his divine Word,

One of the greatest scientists of our time was Albert Einstein. He was a man who was so focused on his scientific theories that he often neglected even the simplest things of life, such as his personal appearance (as evidenced by his out-of-control hairstyle). On one occasion, Einstein was taking a train out of town for a speaking engagement. As he sat in his seat, engrossed in his work, the conductor stopped by to punch his ticket. But there was a problem – Einstein couldn’t find it. He began to frantically search his coat pockets, and then his briefcase, but still no ticket. Finally the conductor reassured him, “Don’t worry about it. We all know who you are, Dr. Einstein. I’m sure you bought a ticket.” But as the conductor moved along he looked back to see Einstein on his hands and knees, searching under the seats for his ticket. The conductor walked back and said, “Dr. Einstein, please, don’t worry about it. I know who you are.” Exasperated, Einstein looked up and said, “I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”

Even today some of the world’s wisest people don’t know where they’re going, especially when it comes to their eternal destination. How can that be? Even though they may have worldly wisdom, they’re lacking true wisdom.

Today we’re centering our thoughts around the theme, “True Wisdom Comes from Sitting at the Lord’s Feet.” True wisdom is God’s wisdom, and when we have that kind of wisdom, we know where we’re going. So today I urge you to make use of that wisdom so that you:

“Don’t Forget Where You’re Going!”

I. Remember what you are in Christ
II. Remember how to live as his saints

Last week in his sermon Vicar talked about how the Christians at Colosse had gotten to the point where they weren’t sure where they were going. Paul had taught them the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, but now some false teachers among them were telling them that Jesus wasn’t enough. They spoke of a “better way,” a way to God that involved subjecting themselves to the Old Testament laws and ceremonies. In this way they felt they could prove themselves worthy before God. Some of them even pushed for angel worship. In short, the people were being told that faith in Christ just wasn’t enough to get to heaven. They themselves had to do more. Such “wisdom” was in direct conflict to all that they had been taught by Paul, and Paul wasn’t about to let this false philosophy steal these people away from their Lord. He wanted to make clear to them that God’s wisdom is the only kind of wisdom that makes a real difference in their lives. He wanted them to remember what they had become in Christ.

Paul begins by reminding them of what they once were when all they had was their own wisdom (v 21), “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” Once upon a time the Colossians had been enemies of God, barred from being in his company by the load of sin that they bore, as evidenced by their sin-stained lives. But in his divine wisdom, God changed all that (v 22), “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Sin had mankind heading in the wrong direction, but God set us straight. He “reconciled” us, meaning that he turned us around. The verb form used here means that this reconciliation was a “once-and-for-all” action. It’s a done deal, because it took place “by Christ’s physical body through death.” God’s wisdom called for a plan where his own Son would take on human flesh, live in man’s place, and then die in man’s place. Then instead of sin, we’d have righteousness. Then Jesus could present us to his heavenly Father, “holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” So now we have the holiness heaven requires. Now our sins are covered – we’re spotless in God’s sight. And we’re “free from accusation.” No one can say that we don’t have enough to get to heaven. We have all we need! Remember what you are in Christ!

The Colossians had all they needed, and Paul didn’t want them to give it up. Heaven was theirs as long as they trusted in God’s wisdom. Paul tells them that they have a future in heaven “if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” (v 23). Paul wants them to remember what he had once told them. He wanted to jog their memories, to get them back to that wonderful gospel message that their salvation was secure because of what Jesus had done for them. The “better way” being peddled to them by the false teachers was the wrong way. Paul wanted them to hang on to what they had, to remember what they were in Christ. He didn’t want them to look elsewhere when all they needed was found in the gospel.

The only way to truly know where we’re going is to trust in Jesus and in Jesus alone. Our Savior says very clearly (Jn 14:6), “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Here’s what it boils down to: You can either trust in God’s wisdom and his plan of salvation through Christ, or you can seek what the world may think is a “better way.” Either your salvation is secure and your relationship with God has been restored, or your salvation is still up in the air and you have to do something yourself to make things right with God. Either you know you’re going to heaven because of Christ, or you’re hoping to do enough so you can get yourself to heaven. Which way do you prefer? The answer is clear. God’s plan is better. His plan was a complete success. Continue in your faith! Trust in Jesus! Heaven is yours already because of him, and because of him you know where you’re going!

You could tell by the way Paul lived how much of a difference this knowledge made in his life. No matter what he suffered, he was still content and could still rejoice. He knew that he was one of God’s children. He knew what he was in Christ — a saint in the eyes of God, washed clean in the blood of Christ. With the same knowledge, let us be motivated to serve our Lord. Let us remember how to live as his saints.

Notice the wonderful irony in what Paul says next (v 24), “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.” Don’t misunderstand these words and think Paul was claiming that Christ’s suffering wasn’t enough for his salvation, that somehow he had to “add” to what Christ had done. No, Paul is simply saying that he was willing to take his turn in suffering for his faith. He states that he could actually “rejoice” in his sufferings, even though he knew there were more to come! We’re reminded of what Jesus said (Mk 13:13), “All men will hate you because of me.” Paul saw his sufferings as proof that he was on the right track! That’s why in Corinthians he could describe his life as “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Co 6:10). Knowing what he was in Christ had made a difference in Paul’s life. No matter what the circumstances, he could rejoice because in Christ he had everything!

Paul knew that he had received a very special calling from the Lord (vv 25,26), “I have become [the church’s] servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness – the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.” God had appointed Paul to be a servant to his church on earth. He was to proclaim God’s Word in all its fullness. He was to present Christ in all his greatness, in all his supremacy, to everyone and anyone. What once had been a “mystery” during all those Old Testament times, now in the New Testament era has been revealed to all believers, the ones God himself calls “saints.” Yes, you and I are saints – holy and pure, fit for heaven, all because of Jesus. And to us the mystery of salvation has been revealed. To his saints “God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (v 27). We live as God’s saints with Christ in us! He’s in our hearts and in our lives. He’s always with us, drawing us closer to him, leading us to live our lives for him, making sure we always hang on to “the hope of glory” that awaits us – all so that we never forget where we’re going!

This is a hope God wants all people to have. That’s where we come in. Just like Paul, God has work for us to do as we live our lives as his saints here on this earth (v 28), “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” It’s up to us to get the message of God’s wisdom out. That involves “admonishing,” letting people know when they’re sinning so that they see the need for a Savior. It involves “teaching,” sharing with people God’s wonderful plan of salvation in Christ. Our goal? To “present everyone perfect in Christ” — to present them “complete” as our Savior’s “finished products”! Then we, too, will share in the glorious vision of all people standing before the throne of God, covered in the robe of Christ’s righteousness!

A wonderful calling, but not an easy one. But notice what Paul says about our source of strength (v 29), “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” We often hear about the years of strenuous training athletes endure in their quest to become all that they can be. Paul also speaks of the hard work he was enduring to reach his goal – the goal of reaching the lost. But he wasn’t relying on his own strength or power. No, he was struggling with all God’s energy, the energy that was “powerfully” working in him. Paul himself had proclaimed (Php 4:13), “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” God gave him his assignment, and God gave him the strength to carry it out. Paul knew he was only the instrument. Saving souls was God’s work, and it would always be done to God’s glory. Paul knew the difference the Savior had made in his life, and he was willing to live as one of his saints to make a difference in the lives of others.

Personally, I need the reminders found in these verses. I need to be reminded that even though life as a Christian may involve some sad times at the hands of a sinful world, I can still rejoice because Christ has made me a saint in the eyes of my God. I need to be reminded of why I’m here on this earth as a Christian – to unveil the mystery of salvation so that all can see how much God loves them and what he’s done to save them. And I need to be reminded that my labors and struggles will not be in vain, because it’s God’s energy that keeps me going as I join with all Christians in striving to present as many people as possible as “perfect in Christ.” I need these reminders. And so do you.

That’s because we all face the temptation to be like Albert Einstein, to forget where we’re going. Even worse, we’re tempted to forget how we get there. But then our Lord calls us in and has us sit down at his feet. There we’re reminded of what we are in Christ — his saints, washed clean in his blood. There, at our Lord’s feet, we’re reminded of our responsibility to live as his saints and to share his salvation with others. We know where we’re going – our ticket’s already punched. It’s marked “paid in full” by our Savior! Don’t you forget it!

Amen

– Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff