Complete
A Professor was traveling by boat. On his way he asked a sailor:
“Do you know Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Geography, or Physiology?
The sailor said, “no, never studied those subjects.”
The Professor exclaimed: “What? You don’t know any of these? Don’t you know you’ll probably die of illiteracy?”
After a while the boat they were on started sinking. The Sailor asked the Professor, do you know swimology, drownology, or sharkology?
The professor said. “no.”
The Sailor calmly but sarcastically said: “Well, your ignorance of swimology and sharkology is going to introduce you to dieology because your mouthology can’t save you.
Sometimes people can get caught up in knowing things they imagine to be necessary, when in fact, they do little if anything to equip them for what might be most needed in their daily life. This can be just as true when it comes to truly “spiritual” things that really matter. This was true when the apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians about the really important things that matter.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Anytime someone is attempting to convince me that I need to rely on my own piety, natural strength, or will power to improve my standing spiritually with God, I already know I shouldn’t give heed. Such dialogue does not put Christ at the center as the Head. Jesus is the only One who completed the work needed for me to be in right standing with God.
The phrase “according to Christ” in this passage is of greatest importance to every believer. Everything that matters to me, or to any believer, is that which is according to Christ. What did Christ do? Who is Christ? What does Christ mean to me? What has Christ done for me? How does what Christ did apply to me? What about Christ should be important to me? Jesus, Jesus , Jesus!
If I were ordering in a restaurant I would say to the waiter or waitress, “I’ll have Christ, with a side of Christ, and for dessert I would like Christ!
Jesus is everything! In Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily and I am complete in Him. I cannot get more complete than I am, when I am in Him.
Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
This is why it is impossible to make too much about Christ. Jesus really is everything! The way God sees it, when Jesus died, I died with Him. When Jesus rose from the dead, I rose with Him. Now I am hidden with Christ in God!
There’s no greater thing! This is not figurative language, or some empty metaphorical notion meant to merely make me feel better about myself. This is my spiritual reality! If you have come to Christ it is your spiritual reality as well. But for it to truly benefit, all those other “ologies” and empty traditions that seek to bring it into question must be set aside so we can focus on what is really true concerning us.
Christ in you! The hope of glory! You are complete in Him Who is the Head of all principalities and powers! This completeness is why you live hidden with Christ in God above the nonsense and the chaos occurring regularly in this world. I hope this brightens your outlook. I know it brightens mine. Be assured in Jesus alone and let the joy of the Holy Spirit fill you today and always.
