I, as a fifty year old woman, began reading the Lord of the Rings books. We binged the entire movies series on Sunday because why not? And I decided it was high time to read the series. So take my thoughts on the LOTR world with this in mind.
Immediately after looking at the next word, invisible, in our Colossians study I thought of the “one ring to rule them all.” Deagol finds the ring while fishing, Smeagol takes it, kills Deagol and comes back to town. Realizing it makes him invisible, he weaponizes this attribute against his family and neighbors who eventually cast him off. We may think it could be a good thing to quietly move through our spaces listening and eavesdropping. In the end, it’s just chains.
In the case of invisible and God, it’s a whole different story. One we would do well to ponder and reflect.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
Colossians 1:15-16 NASB1995
We established yesterday that Jesus is the image, the “perfect expression” of God. Those that were on the earth at the time of Jesus saw this. We read about it. We trust the accounts. We believe.
Definition: invisible lit., “unseen” (a, negative, horao, “to see”), is translated “invisible” in Rom 1:20, of the power and divinity of God; of God Himself, Col 1:15; 1Ti 1:17; Hbr 11:27; of things unseen, Col 1:16. In the Sept., Gen 1:2; Isa 45:3, “unseen (treasures).”
What would it mean to my time, my thoughts, my day to remember that, though my God is unseen, He is here. He is with me. He sees everything.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31 NASB1995
Matthew 10:29-31 NASB1995
Another way to work this word invisible, sometimes WE feel invisible or that because we don’t SEE God, He doesn’t see us or what we are going through because we don’t see him. Just think about our relationships. Yes, we have become quite digital in them, we text more than we call, we email more than we see in person, but face to face is when we understand a little better. We can see facial cues. Body language.
When we pray, when we worship, when we cry, when we hurt it can feel as though we are talking to the air. This passage in Colossians directly refutes this. We have Jesus. Whenever we wonder, are you there, God? We have creation! We have the wonder and majesty of creation to remind us.
Every time we see a sparrow, yes, I’m meant to remember, God values me more than this and knows my need.
I’ll finish with this passage from Hebrews about Moses today.
“choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.”
Hebrews 11:25-27 NASB1995
May we always choose Christ. May the things of this world grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. Peace and love, friends.
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