The Goal is Jesus

This morning I am reflecting on some verses, actually more like most of a chapter, from Paul's letter to the Colossians 2:2-3, 6-17, 20-23 NIV:

[2] "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

[6] "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, [7] rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

[8] "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ."

[9] "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, [10] and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. [11] In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, [12] having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead."

[13] "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, [14] having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. [15] And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

[16] Therefore 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. [17] These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ."

[20] "Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: [21] “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? [22] These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. [23] Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."

OK, there is so much in these passages, but this morning I am focusing on the sufficiency of our relationship with and in Christ Jesus.  Here are some thoughts pulled directly from Paul's writing above:

1) All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ!
2) We are to live our lives hidden in Him.
3) Our lives of faith must be rooted, and built up in Him.
4) These truths are completely different than human wisdom would teach us.
5) In Christ all the fullness of God lives in bodily form.
6) Jesus is over very power and authority.
7) He put to death our sins and cancelled all our indebtedness as a result of our sin.
8) Our whole flesh was put to death and we were raised to new life through our faith in Him.
9) He set us free from any rules and regulations concerning our religious observance, even from the sabbath regulations.
10) Relationship with Him replaces any religious regulation.
11) It is relationship with Him that fulfills us and helps us in restraining sensual indulgence (our appetites and urges).

In light of that list, it is hard to come up with any logic to pursue anything else, or anyone else for that matter.  In and through relationship with Him, our sins are forgiven, we are raised to life, and we are hidden in Him.  If we are hidden in Him, then we have access to everything else that is in Him.   We can begin to touch all the wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in Him, experience the fullness of the Godhead, and even walk in His authority and power!

As Paul rightly comments, why would we submit ourselves to anything less than Christ Jesus?

For many of us, we have been raised in families that embraced religious observances and regulations.  As Paul writes, those things are just shadows of what is found in Christ Jesus.  Thus the purpose and fulfillment of these should be relationship with Jesus, the person, not observance for observances sake.  He is the supposed to be the sole source of all life, where we connect and grow. While the religious observances might point us in the correct direction, and get us started, it is relationship with Him that is the final and eternal goal.

So, if we are struggling to know something, we should turn to Him, for all wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him. If we are battling through some difficult situation we should turn to Him, for He has  all power and authority.  If we are feeling attacked be the enemy we should allow ourselves to be drawn back into Him, hidden in Him the enemy cannot touch us.  If we are struggling to restrain our proclivity for indulgence, we should turn to Him, for it is relationship with Him that brings the necessary truth and light to uncover the lies and deceptions of the enemy, and allows us to draw from His strength and power walk in faith and forgiveness.

Clearly, relationship with Jesus is far more than just an hour or two on Sunday, or some short rote prayers.  He desires us to be connected to Him, interacting with Him, growing in relationship with Him. He is meant to be the greatest treasure we will ever encounter in life and He is worthy of a life-long pursuit and investment of our lives.