Lesson 20: Practical Because Revealed in Jesus
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” Colossians 1:15

While the fact that the Will of God includes and conditions all His creation is a most blessed one, yet it is not sufficient to prove its usefulness to us. One person may be deeply interested in the history of another, but this fact is of little practical use to the one in whom this interest is taken, unless it is made known. I may have plans which are the very best possible for my children, but the first condition of their being carried into effect by these children is that I should make these plans known to them. In the very nature of the case, the Will of God for every human life must be the best; and because of His personal involvement with every part of the person He has created, it must be possible to do that Will if it can be known.

That this Will may be discovered by every human being is the unique claim of Christianity. The central truth of Christianity is Christ, and He is the revelation in a Person of God's Will for man. Moreover, the constant interaction of God with man is that of revealing to him His intention and purpose concerning him. We say, therefore, that the Will of God is practical because it is revealed.

In the life of Jesus there was a perfect unfolding of the thought that was in the heart of God when He said, "Let Us make man in Our image" (Genesis 1:26), "the very image of His substance" (Hebrews 1:3). "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). This is John's testimony concerning Him.


It is a sad commentary upon the blindness of the human heart through sin that the great number of the people who came into contact with Him during the years of His life upon the earth saw no beauty in Him that they should desire Him. Through the process of the centuries, and by the teaching of the Spirit, men are coming to understand the wonderful glory and beauty of His Person and character, and are now recognizing that all perfection of life – individually, socially, religiously – finds in Him its first and greatest expression.

Individually, He yielded Himself wholly to the claim of God, and then faced life's duties and responsibilities with a courage and devotion that changed the common things of the passing days into service so sacred that it contributed to the final glories of the ages to come.

In all social relationships His action was to reveal God's Will in an entirely new light to men, and in doing so revolutionizing human thought and human society. His enemies claim a religious charge because they had no civil one to bring against Him.

Religiously Jesus gave us a glorious revelation of the truth so hard for men to learn, that religion is not an addition to life, but is life itself. With Him God was first; and there was no second. The critics of the ages may be challenged to discover a single action of His life as recorded that was not true to the keyword of that life, "I must be about My Father's business."

Question: Is the availability of God’s Will limited in anyway to mankind?
Let's reflect on, even memorize: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” Colossians 1:15