“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
of every creature: (16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and
for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossians
1:15 – 17
This passage of scripture is speaking of Jesus Christ
Who is the image of God. The main point today for our study is “all things were
created by him, and for him” everything in creation was created to bring glory
to God. However, when dealing with mankind you are dealing with a selfish
people. People are so selfish that God said, “Who changed the truth of God into
a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator…” Romans
1:25 selfishness causes man to think so highly of themselves that they earnestly
believe that they are as powerful as God. To hear God say it man can do nothing
for themselves, however, hear man say it, man can do anything they set their
mind too. This is why they have changed the truth into a lie, to glorify
themselves instead of God who truly deserves all glory. Man gets this false
thought from Satan, who challenged God and wanted to be God and fell as an
angel. Think about it, Eve wanted to be like God and fell, “For God doth know
that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall
be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:5 Adam chose to eat of the
fruit because his beloved wife had, choosing Eve over God for selfish reasons.
The Israelites constantly chose selfishness over God’s glory, and so do much of
Christendom of today. You cannot walk into many churches today who give God
all glory, not in song, prayer, or worship, and certainly not in actions.
When you look into the average churches beliefs you will not find God’s glory,
you only find mans. If anything, that happens or anything you do, say, or think
does not glorify God then it is done in vain. Salvation is about God’s glory in
His Son Jesus Christ, God saves sinners, sinners cannot save themselves. If
anything in your life is for self-glory then it is anti-God, Jesus said “Then
answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son
can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things
soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” John 5:19 Jesus
never did anything for His own glory, everything He did was for His Father’s
glory, and “this should be our example” doing everything for God’s
glory. The Apostle Paul, who was most likely the greatest human outside of
Jesus Christ, admitted that only by God’s grace was he what he was, he never
took credit or seek glory for himself. Paul wrote these words, “For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 God has ordained what
belongs to Him to deliver glory to Himself thru those that He has chosen. Paul
was not selfish, he did not calculate what was good for him, Paul never seek
any glory, nor did he take any credit for it. All things are done by the
Fathers gracious hands and therefore He must receive all the glory. If churches
cannot give God the glory then they’re not a church, if a Pastor cannot give
God the glory then they’re not a Pastor, and if a Christian cannot give God the
glory then they’re not a Christian. If God did not save you, you’re not saved,
if God did not put you into a church then you’re not a church member. A Pastor
should never receive glory for his work, it is God who set you in place, and it
is God who gives you the ability and a place to preach. One of the greatest
preachers in history was Charles Haddon Spurgeon, he is more quoted than any
other source of biblical commentary. While he was a great man and a brilliant biblical
mind, he never once failed to give God all glory and left none for himself.
Folks, it is all by and for Jesus Christ, and if it does not glorify His Father
than it is not “of God”. “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us
go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he
will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall
go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:3
