OPPS!YOU CUT AGAIN THE VERSES OR SENTENCES!

HEY!you have to read the continuations of the verses and see what it means!
Your interpretations is like a grade school students!you have to read verses 16 and 17 too!
Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

1:16 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:

1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.



He is the Manifestation of God.

The first reason why he should be given first place in your life is because of his relation to God. Notice what it says in Colossians 1:15a (NIV): "He is the image of the invisible God." In others words, he is the very manifestation of God.

In the Greek, this word "image" is the word eikon (eijkw;n). You might recognize its English derivative –– icon. It is an interesting word because it points to several things. It points to a statue or a portrait, or in our modern vernacular, a photograph. What is being said here is that Jesus Christ is the picture, the representation of, the picture of God. When Jesus came to this earth, God came in the form of a man. He walked among us and He lived among us. Here in Christ we see the image of the invisible God revealed. Do you want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus. Do you want to know what God would do if He came to earth and was made a man and had to live like you live? Just look at Jesus. He shows you exactly what God would do and who God is. He is the image of the invisible God.

This means that Jesus is divine. Look at John 1:1. In this passage we see clearly just who Jesus was and is: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In the Jehovah’s Witness Bible, called the New World Translation, they add one little word to the last phrase of John 1:1. In their translation it reads, "and the word was a God." That little change makes a BIG difference. In the Greek, however, it says something altogether different. The actual Greek says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word (kai; qeo;" h\n oJ lovgo")." That’s the thrust in the original. What you see in Jesus is the Word made flesh. That’s the image He portrays for us. What we see in Jesus is the eternal God of the universe; Son of God, but God the Son, leaving His eternal glory and taking upon Himself the form of a servant.

If you turn to Hebrews 1:3, it says, "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Philippians 2:6 says, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped." He existed in the very form and essence of God. In Jesus, we have God made flesh. In Jesus, we have Emmanuel (God with us). He is the portrait of God. If you want to see God, just look at Jesus. He deserves first place in our life because he is the very manifestation of God. But he also deserves to be first in your life because…
He is the Creator of the Universe.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17 NIV)

Jesus Christ is Creator of the universe. In our passage, Paul calls him the firstborn over all creation. This is an interesting word. In the Greek it is prototokos, a word that signifies priority and preeminence. It is a word of honor, of position in relation to other things. What you have here is Paul saying, "He deserves priority over all things. He deserves first place over all things. He is supreme over all." And the reason why he is supreme over all things is because he was here before all things and he is Creator of them.

He is the Creator God. He called all things into existence. The terms "visible, invisible, thrones, powers, rulers, authorities" are terms for angelic and demonic spiritual beings. It’s by his creative hand that everything, visible and invisible, physical and spiritual, is made.

Earlier we quoted from the first chapters of John and Hebrews regarding Christ’s deity. Those same chapters also address his creative power as God.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3 NIV)

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV)

It is clear that Christ is the Creator, and we should serve him for that reason alone. But he is more than simply Creator. According to our text, he is also the Sustainer of the universe. Our text says that in him all things hold together. This is an interesting phrase. All things stick together in Him. He is the Sustainer. It implies to us that without the presence of the eternal God of the universe, things would literally fly apart.

Now, I am not a scientist, but what little I do know about the atom amazes me. Scientists still do not know just one holds the atom together. They explain it many times by citing some unknown "force" of nature. As Christians, we know what this force is. It is the power of the eternal God. Christ holds this universe together. He sustains everything that is and will continue to do so until he comes again.

But there’s something more. He is not only the Creator of all things, He is not only the Sustainer of all things, but He is the Destiny of all things. Our text says that all things were created by him and for him. Everything that has been created, was not only created through His power, but also created for His purposes.

God made you, not for your own purpose, but for his purpose in the universe. Christ brought us all together in this place, not so we could do our things, but so we could do his thing. God gave you the profession you’re in, not so that you could do your thing, but so you could be involved in his purpose in the universe. If you’re a doctor, you’re not just simply a doctor, you’re there to show people what Christ would be like were he a doctor. If you’re a lawyer, you’re there to show people what God would be like if he was trying a case. If you’re a secretary, you’re there to show all the other secretaries and your boss what Christ would be like if he was typing a letter or doing the activities that you engage in. You’re there so that you can infiltrate the world and show people what God is like living in a human being. You’re on mission, wherever you are, for the Lord Jesus Christ as his ambassador. Jesus Christ has called you to himself so that you could do his will and fulfill his purpose. You were created by him and for him.

Christ should be first in your life because he is the manifestation of God, and because he is the Creator of the universe. But there’s one more reason mentioned in our text. Christ should have first place in your life because...