By Him and for Him

"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him."
(Colossians 1:16)

At times in my life I've run into folks who didn't believe in the trinity and didn't believe that Jesus Christ was God incarnate come in the flesh. Usually using specious logic they try to convince me of the rightness of their position. Invariably I show them the first chapter of John and then bring them to the first chapter of Colossians. It's usually at Colossians that they give up the argument and (I guess) move on to someone else.

This is actually one of my favorite verses. It gives us a glimpse into the pre-incarnate Christ and His connection with creation. Jesus existed with God eternally before He ever came as a baby in a manger. The act of humility in coming to earth and laying His life down for us and bearing the sin of all mankind was an incredible act of love.

What kind of God does such a thing?

Not the capricious gods of Greece and Rome or Germanic mythology.

Not an accounting Allah who would always watch the scales.

Not pagan tribal gods who demanded human sacrifice to be appeased.

Just the real one. The one who loves His creation so much that He would personally redeem them.

It's amazing to me how He has done so much for us and yet our hearts are hardened to the point where people actually hate the notion of Jesus. People are surely blinded by the god of this world (2nd Co. 4:4).