Reading: Colossians 2
As I sat reading this today all I can think of is where do people go for truth? That is what this really is all about. Truth. Where do we go? Paul starts out saying, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (vs. 3) Well in whom is this hidden? The answer is simple and just above in verse 2. Christ is the answer. We need to know Christ and in knowing Christ Jesus, we therefore know God.
Paul warns us throughout this passage of many things. First, he warns us of philosophy and empty deceit, which is according to the traditions of men, or according to the basic principles of the world (vs. 8). When you look at the Old Testament you see how the traditions had become rituals in which they went through the motions. God intended for us to have a relationship with Him, but that couldn’t happen based on rituals it had to be authentic. When we seek philosophy instead of our creator, we miss out on the essence of what this life is meant for. We are made for relationship, and through that relationship will come an understanding of who He is.
In my opinion if you are following man instead of God, you have been deceived. We are to follow Jesus Christ and He will show us the Father. We are to read the words spoken in scripture regarding Christ coming through prophetic words of old, through His life and ministry here on earth, and what is spoken in revelations about His second coming. If we are not reading and mediating on God’s full word and instead listen to man, we will be deceived as Paul is warning us. Paul tells us that Jesus is the head of all principality and power. If we believe a man has that power instead, we are wrong. Only Jesus and no other saint past or present has the power of Jesus and His name.
I find it interesting that Paul warns of judgement of others “in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come” (vs. 16). He further states to let no one cheat us of our reward, which is what Christ has accomplished for us. We must not be judging others based on what they do or don’t do because of their beliefs in God. An example from in the Old Testament of dietary restrictions were not eating anything unclean. However, for those that did not grow up under this, there is no reason not to. In fact Peter had a vision of food that was unclean and clean prior to being sent to the Gentiles to share the gospel. (Acts 10:9-16) Because of this He was able to share with them in their homes, to him they had been considered unclean and common, but God had a better plan.
Jesus has come to make us all clean, Jewish and Gentiles alike, and when we keep our eyes on him, Jesus Christ alone; none of these things can impact our salvation. Jesus may have you go to places that we do not consider good or clean, but God has a way of changing things we see as unclean or common into something highly favored and extraordinary.
Paul further states if we have died with Christ, from the basic principles of the world, why would we subject ourselves to regulations again? (vs. 20) As mentioned, these things appear to have wisdom, such as the doctrines of men appear to have wisdom. (vs. 22) Yet they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. (vs. 23) We need to set our eyes and our lives to follow Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) Jesus Christ should be our only concern. His word will give us life. In His word we will find treasure, wisdom and understanding. We must seek those treasures out. I pray that you come to love reading God’s word, His truth. I pray that you will have understanding of His word, the whole word, not just parts. His word says, to seek and you will find. If you have questions, the answers are there waiting to be discovered. God left us everything we need for this world. He left us His word that is alive, and He has given us the Holy Spirit that will help us to understand the word that is given to us.