JESUS, THE BRIGHTNESS OF GOD'S GLORY Colossians 1:15-17 Elsewhere in Scripture, the extent of creation is also mentioned. The book of Colossians contains an expression almost identical to the one we are considering. "And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born 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 by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Col 1:15-17, NASB). -- Tomorrow:
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Hebrews 1:1-4)
Devotion 7 of 14
" . . . by whom also he made the worlds . . . " (Heb 1:2)
The phrase "the worlds" (tous aionas) is used 30 times in the New Testament Scriptures. It is used in a variety of ways. It is translated "forever" (Matt 6:13; Lk 1:33; Rom 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 16:27; 2 Cor 11:31; Heb 13:8; Jude 25 ) "forevermore" (Gal 1:5; Rev 1:18), and "forever and ever" (Phil 4:20; 1 Tim 1:17; 2 Tim 4:18; Heb 13:21; 1 Pet 4:11; 5:11; Rev 1:6; 4:9,10; 5:13; 7:12; 10:6; 11:15; 14:11; 15:7; 19:3; 20:10; 22:5).
This text, however, appears to use the word in a unique way. Later, in the eleventh chapter, the Spirit uses the words "the worlds" again in regard to creation. "By faith we understand that THE WORLDS were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible" (NASB). Doubtless, this refers to the expression in our text, "through Whom also He made THE WORLDS."
It is clear that the Spirit is not talking about "ages" or time, for reference is made to "what is seen," and things made out of what was "invisible." The word "seen" means these things CAN be seen. Some of them require the assistance of microscope and telescope, but they are visible, though distance, or their smallness, may obscure them. The point here is the vastness of the creation.
Herein is a most wonderful declaration! Ponder the vastness of the creation--a creation that required six evenings and mornings. There are the heavens, filled with countless celestial bodies. There are individual heavenly bodies, clusters of bodies, and vast galaxies of bodies. A staggering variety of them exist, some emitting light some reflecting light. They differ in size and in function as well. There is movement among them, and many of them can actually be seen in their movement from the earth,
There is the earth and the vast array of life upon it. Here there are living bodies, both of man and impersonal creatures. The bodies of each are different, and are adapted for different roles. Some bodies are adapted for flight through the air. Others move about in the depths of the sea. Some are adapted to move about underground. The superior creation is man, with a complex fleshly and spiritual nature. There is a vast variety of vegetation, gaseous, and chemical bodies. It is true, "The earth is the Lord's and the FULNESS thereof" (Psa 24:1).
There is the whole realm of the invisible--things that cannot be seen. The realm of power, with light, wind, electricity, magnetism, gravity, and various laws of physics. The principle of life, the soul and the spirit, and other invisible realities were also created by Jesus.
Ponder the domains of influence which impact upon men, called "thrones, dominions, and powers." They include angels, archangels, chief angels, seraphs, cherubim, and living creatures. They even include inimical powers called "principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph 6:12). While the latter left their first habitation, falling from their original state, they all had their genesis with our Lord. He created them all. They all answer to Him, and He will pronounce their final condition.
Our minds are to be stretched in our consideration of the Son! When it comes to Jesus, let men abandon restrictive views, and stunted ideas. The heavens and the earth are involved in the creation. The creation is no doubt infinitely larger than what men call "the universe." Everything in our universe consists of things that "can be seen." But Jesus also created things that "cannot be seen."
And this is the One through whom God is now speaking to us. We do well to give heed to Him, not refusing Him who is speaking from heaven (Heb 12:25).
PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, grant me power to think of Jesus in a befitting manner, as the creator of "the worlds."