Do you ever wish you could make yourself invisible?
When I was a little girl, I often wished I could make myself invisible–to the point that I would pretend to be invisible. I’d walk as silently as possible, repeating to myself “I’m invisible, no one can see me.” over and over again. Invariably, someone always messed up my plan and was able to find me, often because I was trying to hide in plain sight. But I didn’t want to be found.
We may want to be invisible ourselves, but I think there are many of us who wish that God was not invisible. Unlike me not wanting to be found, we want to find this invisible God.
I’ve come across a verse that I’ve been working on for a few days, that I’d like to share here. I found this verse because of an incredible worship song written by Travis Doucette. I’ll place the YouTube video of it being sung below this post. The name of the song is “God of the Ages”. Last week I had the privilege and honor of getting to sing the solo part with the choir accompanying me, and this week we are singing it again as a congregational song. Because I worked so hard on it, the words have made their way into my soul. Words are important to me. And when words make their way into my soul, I am compelled to study them, to contemplate them, to talk them over with God.
The very first phrases of the song are “You are the image, of the invisible God, the first born of creation.” (you can click on that link to see all of the lyrics). After singing it over and over, I knew I would have to look deeper into these words.
They come straight out of scripture, nearly word for word: Colossians 1:15–
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Beyond the fact that it is a beautiful use of language, what does it mean? Who is “He”?
We learn in Colossians 1:13 that these verses are referring to Jesus, God’s son. Jesus. Jesus is the image of the invisible God.
Because, you see, God does not reveal His physical image to us–he is the invisible God. We won’t see His face until we go home to heaven, and even then I wonder if the glory of His presence will be so brilliant that we might not be able to see His face. But God, in his infinite wisdom and plan, provided a way for us to “see” Him, through His son Jesus, who left His Home with His Father to clothe Himself in mankind. To become like one of us–flesh and blood–to experience all that we experience here on earth. Joy, Pain, Suffering, Laughter, Friendship. Even death.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God. It is through Him that we see the Father. Jesus is very personal. Jesus is very close.
What does it mean that Jesus was the firstborn of all creation? I believe it points back to before the beginning of this world, that Jesus was present as the first born. That before all of creation, Jesus was there. How can we possibly understand this? We can’t. It is too much for our finite minds. I wonder if we will understand better when we go Home and no longer view things through a glass dimly, but instead see God as He is.
In the second verse of “God of the Ages”, we learn that Jesus is creator, ruling sustainer of all and that He “holds it all together”. Again, this comes straight out of this Colossians passage. Take a look:
Remember, this is still talking about Jesus. Jesus was creator along with God, as God, as part of the trinity. Good grief, these are things we cannot understand, but that are truth because scripture is truth.
But my favorite line of all is “He holds it altogether”. Wow, slow down and imagine that for a second. That Jesus (and God the Father) hold all things together. All of creation. All of the universe.
And me. He holds me together. Even when life threatens to pull me apart.
And you. He holds you together. Even when life threatens to pull you apart.
There is so much more that could be said. He is the Word of God. (John 1:1). He is the Hope for all the World. (Romans 15:13). But I’ll end with this verse in Romans 1:20, that speaks to God’s invisible attributes:
The very things of creation—the mountains, the rivers, the islands—even this tropical storm that is headed our way and up the East Coast—all speak to God’s invisible attributes. His eternal power and divine nature.
We are without excuse. I am without excuse.
