I was reading the other day in the book of Colossians and came across something pretty interesting…
15 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him”
– Colossains 1:15-19
I am a true believer that art is the language of the Invisible… it’s why our team has thrown every ounce of energy we have to create a gathering for creatives in Nashville this fall! I believe this statement to be true because art is one of the most intimate forms of communication and if our very living invisible God were to communicate, this would absolutely be one of those ways.
But there’s so much more in this passage than just the understanding that God is invisible or that He would use Art to communicate:
Christ is our perfect measure of His art, and therefore Christ is the ultimate art piece.
There are four things I believe that Colossians tells us about Creation and Art:
1. Christ is the Originator of all creativity.
It all starts with him and God formed us into His being in order to be that example that same example for others… the example that God created all of us! As we create, we understand that He is the originator of our art and the originator of our creation as well.
“In Him all things were created” [16a]
2. Christ is the Agent of all creativity.
He is the provider of all art and he is the one who is working in and through us for a creative sake. He is artistically working through us as his great masterpiece. Every where, across the globe His creative agent is working to give him glory.
“Through Him all things were created” [16b]
3. Christ is the Goal of all creativity.
He is what we as Christians should aim to exemplify in our creative and artistic endeavors. I believe that all art boasts His glory, however some art communicates it better than others. It’s time for us to realize that He is who we create for, not because he needs it, but because He wants the world to see our Father in all our creativity.
“For Him all things were created” [16c]
4. Christ is the Sustainer of all creativity.
It’s not by our ability or our gifts that we are given the ability to create amazing works of art, but by his grace, mercy and love. He holds all things together because He is the ultimate creator. There’s no denying it.
“In Christ all things hold together.” [17]
There’s a word for all of what this passage is talking about.
The greek word translated “image” is Eikon. This word translated isn’t implying a weakening or feeble copy of something else that exists, but rather an illumination of it’s inner core and essence. [credit] This word “eikon” is pronounced just like our english word “icon.” We all know that an icon is a representation of something… but if you and I are to become the “icon” or the mark of Christ, then we need to refine our approach to creation and art.
We need to create in a way that our icon is an illumination of His glorious and majestic being.
When our art becomes the very image of Christ created by him, for him, through him and in him we have the opportunity to become His icon on this world to be transformed by.
I want to become an icon for Christ.
