“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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17)
Again and again throughout Scripture God identifies Himself not only as the beginning of all things, but as their final purpose. That is to say, He is both the source from which all things flow, and the One to whom all things ultimately return. And this truth is represented in Scripture as fitting, glorious, and right.[1]
When the Lord declares, “I am the first, and I am the last,” He is declaring that all things originate in Him and are ordered toward Him. The same God who stands at the fountainhead of creation stands at its final horizon. Romans 11:36 says it plainly: “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things.” Colossians 1:16 reiterates that, but with Christ at the center: “All things were created by him, and for him.” This language confirms that creation is not ultimately about the creature; it’s about the Creator.
Colossians presses this truth further by showing that Christ is not only the agent of creation but also its goal and sustainer. He is before all things, not merely in sequence, but in rank and dignity. And “by him all things consist.” The universe does not simply exist because it was once created. It continues because Christ actively holds it together. Every moment of stability, order, and coherence in creation is dependent on Him.
Christ, being eternally blessed in Himself, freely chose to display His love by creating a people to whom and for whom He would give Himself. So the cross is intertwined with the purpose of creation itself. “All things were created by him, and for him,” so that He might have a people upon whom He would pour out His love, and in whom His soul would eternally delight.
These truths humble us because they affirm that God, our Creator, is our source and sustainer, and that our existence, redemption, and future are bound up with Christ’s joy and glory. We are not saved just to escape judgment but that we may belong to Christ, to be part of that fullness in which He delights.
Therefore, creation, redemption, and glory are not separate stories. They are one story, moving from God, upheld by Christ, and returning to God again in glory. To live rightly in this world is to accept this understanding gladly … that we were made by Him, we are sustained by Him, and, astonishingly, we were also made for Him.
Contemplations:
- God as the final end. I often live as though my comfort, success, or peace were the ultimate reason things exist. This passage confronts that instinct head-on. All things were created for Christ, not for me. And if everything exists for Him, then my life has meaning only as it is ordered toward Him. I do not have to invent purpose; I receive it by belonging to Christ and living for His glory.
- Christ sustaining all things. It’s easy for me to think of Christ as necessary for salvation but distant from ordinary life. Yet Scripture says that by Him all things consist. My breath, my strength, my stability, even my ability to think clearly right now, are upheld by Him. I need to remember that nothing in my life is neutral or self-sustaining, but that every moment is supported by Christ’s active power.
- The Church as Christ’s joy. It’s hard to believe that Christ delights in His people because I see so much weakness and failure in myself and others. Yet Scripture says the church is His fullness, His crown, and His bride. That does not excuse sin, but it does reframe identity. I am not tolerated by Christ; I am loved. He chose to rejoice in a redeemed people, and that includes believers like me.
- Creation and redemption joined. I often separate creation and salvation in my thinking, as if redemption were a backup plan. This text refutes that division. All things were created by Christ and for Christ, including the purpose of redemption. That means my salvation is woven into the reason the world exists. That reality calls me to live with intention, gratitude, and hope.
Prayer (Thanksgiving)
Lord Jesus Christ, I give thanks to You as the One by whom all things were created and for whom all things exist. I thank You that nothing in this world is random or meaningless, because everything stands under Your authority and purpose. When my thoughts grow small and my worries feel large, You remind me that You are before all things, and that by You all things hold together. I praise You for that sustaining power which never sleeps and never fails.
I thank You that creation does not merely speak of Your strength, but of Your intention. You did not create the world and step away from it. You continue to uphold it by the word of Your power. This means that every ordinary moment in my life is a gift from Your hand, something I often take for granted. I move through days as though life were automatic. Yet Your Word tells me that without You, nothing would remain as it is even for an instant.
I thank You especially for the grace revealed in Your purpose toward the church. It humbles me to think that You, who fill all things with good, have chosen to receive joy in Your redeemed people. That You would call the church Your body, Your bride, Your crown—this stretches my understanding of who You are and softens my heart toward You. I thank You that salvation is not only rescue from judgment but entrance into fellowship with You. You did not just save me from something; You saved me for Yourself.
I am also thankful that You did not remain distant from Your creation, but took on flesh and entered it. You emptied Yourself, not of Your deity, but of visible glory, so that You might redeem what You had made. I am so thankful that the cross was not an interruption in Your purpose but its fulfillment. You gave Yourself for Your people, and in doing so, displayed the depth of Your love and the seriousness of Your commitment to what You created.
Lord, my life has meaning because it belongs to You. I am not sustained by chance, nor am I moving toward an uncertain end. I was created by You, redeemed by You, and am being held together by You even now. That truth steadies my heart when I am anxious and corrects me when I grow self-centered.
Teach me to live with gratitude shaped by this reality. Let my choices, my words, and my hopes reflect the truth that all things are from You and for You. Keep me mindful that my highest good is not found in comfort or recognition, but in honoring You. Because all glory belongs to You, and it is my joy to acknowledge that.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Col. 1:16-17:
John 1:3; Col. 2:10; Heb. 1:2; Prov. 16:4
[1] Jonathan Edwards, Two Dissertations, I. Concerning the End for Which God Created the World. II. The Nature of True Virtue, (Boston: Printed and sold by S. Kneeland, opposite to the probate-office in Queen-Street, 1765), 50–51.
