He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist [hold together]. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence (Colossians 1:15-18).
One’s focus is the center of his/her interest or activity. It is what one pays attention to. Being focused in the present moment means that you are solely concentrated on the one thing or activity that matters to you or is important to you. Everything else is unimportant, therefore, one shuts out all distractions and gives full and undivided attention to the object of his/her focus. For the believer, Christ should always be the object of our focus!
In this first chapter of Colossians, the apostle’s focus is on Jesus Christ, the Son of God in His preeminence. He says that Jesus is the very image of the invisible God, and that He, being the Creator, has full and total authority over every part of His creation. All things were made by Him, through Him, and for Him, and He is the One who holds everything together! He became a man in order to die for our sins and was the first to rise from the dead that in all things He may have the preeminence! Jesus is the incomparable Son of God, matchless in every way! Therefore, how dare we relegate Him to a place of least importance. How could we, His purchased possession, disesteem the one who died for us and rose again by treating Him as though He was something common?
Whatever is most important to you captures your focus. Have you ever noticed how one may have another’s full attention until someone or something else captures their interest? The writer is telling us that Jesus Christ should have our full attention in everything. If we truly honor Him, we will keep our focus on Him alone.
Pastor Don