Jesus Christ First
Here is something that a chap pointed out to me the other day at our Prayer Fellowship, and it is an interesting string of ideas and concepts, so what do you think about this concept? When we look into scripture we find this in Colossians 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” Then we have this on in 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.” And the final point in this trilogy is found in Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
Jesus Christ is “The Firstborn” and he is the “Firstfruits” but also he is to be our one and only and forever, “First Love.” It was once said, and it goes something like this; “May Jesus Christ be First, Last, and Best is Everything.” How easily things can move our focus and attention away from important to other things, just like Paul wrote in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” JB Phillips rendition goes something like this, “Do not let the world squeeze you into its mould,” and Paul uses the terms of being Conformed and being Transformed to get the valid point across, of there being a major shift and not any minor touch-up of our focus.
Conformed and Transformed gives the concept of some pretty dramatic shifts in events, for example a derelict house gets a full makeover and it is totally Transformed and totally unrecognizable anymore, TV Reality Shows give people a “Makeover” and we have a total transformation, and even their closest family and friends are astounded, and hardly recognize them in their new presentation. So it should be with Jesus Christ in our life, for as Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
We Christians should continually radiate and glow in the Love and devotion we have towards our Saviour and “First Love” just like an “Engaged Couple” just glow in their devotion for each other. Is Jesus still your “First Love” or has circumstances and things squeezed you into their mould, and the early desires are running cooler and more sporadic.
“First Fruits” is a term often used throughout the Old Testament, where before ever any harvest was started, the farmer went out into the crop and harvested a select quality sample of the crop, he took this back to the Temple and the Priest would wave it before God as if to say “Thank you for the Bountiful Harvest.” This was living proof and evidence that out there somewhere in the fields was heaps more of the same thing. Should we not be “Upholding Jesus Christ” as proof evidence that there is way more available and all and any sinners can bountifully avail themselves of the bounty that is freely distributed in Jesus Christ?
The “First Born” is the position of power in any Jewish family, and this son is the major inheritor and is held responsible for the welfare of all family members, Staff and Servants, and all family property, he is also the one who encourages and directs in the Spiritual/Religious life, sort of is the Pastor of the family. In times of hardship, the “First Born” has the first and most powerful right to buy back any family member by paying off their debts and getting them back their property or possessions that they sold through hardship. Jesus Christ did this for us all at Calvary and paid a huge price for our redemption from sin, and then plans to give us back the world rebuilt and restored to its original amazingness, and everything else that we have lost, just check out John 3:16, and the last chapters of Revelation if in doubt.
So Jesus Christ is “The First Born” [John 1:18], he is “The Firstfruits” [1 Corinthians 15:20] and “The First Love” [Revelation 2:4] so is he that to you? And if so, is he at the highest and deepest and broadest level possible, and then daily growing that level even bigger and better on a daily basis for you?
Dear Reader; Is Jesus Christ to you the very first thing in your life and in mine? Have we somehow lost our “First Love” and all the intimacy and tenderness and become crusty and hard? Please let us all avail ourselves of the softening and subduing influence of the “Holy Spirit” and once more be connected to the living Vine, Christ Jesus and to once more experience Life at its ultimate and very best, and to enjoy life at its best Over Here and a restored creation for all eternity Over There. Let us each resolve to make Jesus Christ who is “The Firstborn” and he is the “Firstfruits” but also to make sure that he is our one and only and forever, “First Love.”
