Advent Day 7: Creator of All Things | Firstborn of Every Creature

Christ Creation From The Sea, Cliff McReynolds, 1997. Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 in.
Used with permission from the artist.

Star In A Parallel Place, Cliff McReynolds, 2007. Oil on canvas, 28.5 x 28.5 in.
Used with permission from the artist.

1 Corinthians 2:9, Cliff McReynolds, 2015. Oil on canvas, 4 x 5 ft.
Used with permission from the artist.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (Detail), Cliff McReynolds, 2015. Oil on canvas, 4 x 5 ft. Used with permission from the artist.

“Creator of the Stars of Night” Performed by St. John’s Episcopal Church Compline Choir in Boulder, Colorado, with Thomas Edward Morgan, conductor. Hymn tune is "Conditor Alme Siderum."

“Down from His Glory” Performed by Amira Willighagen and David Cerna. Lyrics by William E. Booth-Clibborn, music “O Sole Mio” by Alfredo Mazzucchi and Eduardo di Capua.

Poetry:

“The Book of Genesis”
by Kei Miller

Suppose there was a book full only of the word,
let – from whose clipped sound all things began: fir
and firmament, feather, the first whale — and suppose
we could scroll through its pages every day
to find and pronounce a Let meant only for us —
we would stumble through the streets with open books,
eyes crossed from too much reading; we would speak
in auto-rhyme, the world would echo itself — and still
we’d continue in rounds, saying let and let and let
until even silent dreams had been allowed.

Creator of All Things | Firstborn of Every Creature

“Jesus is the reason for the season” has become a popular phrase to remind people of the importance of making Jesus the center of the Christmas season. We need Advent to help us refocus our lives and prepare our hearts for the celebration of God’s presence with us at Christmas. During the holidays, life’s busyness, consumerism, and many other distractions push us away from the real purpose of Christmas. We need constant reminders to reorient our lives to resist the typical annual drift away from Christ.

Nevertheless, Jesus is not only the foundation and purpose of Christmas, but He is also the Lord of all and the one who always gives meaning to all existence. At Christmas, we celebrate that Jesus is the Lord of salvation. God the Son became a human being to die on our behalf and reconcile us with God. The incarnation became the most remarkable spiritual miracle in which God became physically present with us. When we see images of a baby born in a manger, we should not forget that the promised Messiah or Christ is the eternal God himself. Christ is not only the Lord of salvation, but He is also the Lord of creation; He is the Lord of all.

In the midst of life’s distractions, worries, and uncertainties, the Lordship of Christ helps us to reorient our lives constantly. The phrase, “Jesus is Lord,” became the audible mark of followers of Christ since the early church. This phrase recognizes our Lord’s preeminence and providence, which are clearly described in today’s Bible passages. Just as the term 'Advent' helps us eagerly anticipate Christmas, the terms 'preeminence' and 'providence' guide us to the practical application of the Lordship of Christ in our lives.

Colossians 1 says that Jesus Christ is the first of all creation to emphasize his preeminence over everything. The purpose and meaning of life and creation are only found in Christ. The same God who makes the sun rise every morning is above everybody else, including ourselves, and we can fully trust in him. All creation declares the glory of God (Ps. 19:1) because everything exists by him and for him. When we declare that Jesus is Lord, we proclaim our loyalty and trust to the one who holds the world in his hand.

Our God is more than the creator of everything that exists; our Lord always sustains the universe. God’s providence means that Christ preserves all things, and He is always in control of everything. When we proclaim that Jesus is Lord, we recognize that, regardless of our fears, concerns, and tribulations, we can trust in him. Every new day stands as a reminder that the sovereign God of the universe continues to show us his favor and grace.

We need reminders to focus on the relevance of this season. At the same time, we recognize that every day is a holiday because of the Lordship of Christ. In fact, another way to say Merry Christmas every day of the year is “Jesus is Lord.”

Prayer:
Our triune God, we trust you and rest in you every day of our lives. In the middle of life’s struggles and uncertainties, we rest in your arms and gladly proclaim that Jesus is Lord for the glory of God.
Amen.

Octavio Javier Esqueda
Professor of Christian Higher Education
Director, Ph.D. and Ed.D. Programs in Educational Studies
Talbot School of Theology
Biola University

For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, please visit our website via the link in our bio.