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. - Colossians 1:15-17
“Through” and “In” are two little words, two sweet little words. One is long and lanky, vowels bordered and guarded by tall consonants on either end. The other is sweet and short and seemingly so very simple. But both provide so much important information.
Through is a pathway that has a starting point and an endgame in mind, but most importantly Through has a means of process. Something goes through something to get from point A to point Z. All the BCDEFG etc. and so on. Through begins, ends, and finds its process in Jesus, the Alpha and Omega (Greek A and Z), the first and the last (starting point and endgame), the Beginning and the End (Genesis to Revelation) (Revelation 22:13). In John 1:3 we see creation was made through Jesus:
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (emphasis added).
In is orderly and has strict boundaries. Operating within a specific frame. In never crosses boundaries though it sometimes relates to something outside its realm, something that happened somewhere else, something that happened in the past, something that will happen in the future. When In stays within its boundaries everything is as it should be, but when boundaries are crossed In becomes Out and Out is never good.
Out is never inline, never obedient, never abiding by the rules, never abiding in Christ, never where it should be. Out claims it has the right to go here, be there, do that, do this (1 Corinthians 10:23), so Out never has to listen to Almighty God on high. On the other hand, Out doesn’t feel like it can ever belong, be good enough, doesn’t qualify, too terrible to ever be loved by our compassionate Heavenly Father.
But in Colossians 1:16-17, Paul writes: “For in him [Jesus] all things were created… and in him all things hold together.” (NIV emphasis added).
Though in sin the things on earth have stepped Out of bounds, that doesn’t change the fact that all things were made for Him [Jesus]. Jesus invites us back in, to step through the doorway whose posts and lintels are painted with His blood as the Israelites painted the doorposts in Egypt (Exodus 12:7). Jesus invites us into the water and blood that gushed from His side on the cross and to be washed clean as the Israelites passed through the Red Sea. Jesus invites us to dwell with Him forever in a place He has prepared for us as He brought the Israelites into the promised land that He had prepared for them.
We no longer have to remain Out, we can come In. Jesus has left the door wide open.
By abiding in Jesus we are enabled to live through Him.