To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:2
History tells us that within two or three years of receiving this letter from the apostle Paul, almost if not all of the Christians in Colosse perished in a huge earthquake that struck the area. Philemon, to whom Paul wrote another of his epistles, a leading brother in the Colossian Assembly, was undoubtedly killed or at the very least had his home and possessions destroyed. It is interesting that the same earthquake also destroyed the nearby town of Laodicea, but that town rebuilt and there was an Assembly there to which one of the seven letters to the churches in Asia were written some 30 years later in Revelation 3. But Colosse was never rebuilt. Nor were there any Christians left to re-establish their Assembly. When the Assembly there received Paul’s letter, they had no idea how little time they had left. We don’t know how much time we have left, either. That is why it is important to be, like the Colossians were, known as the faithful brethren in Christ.
That is an interesting expression: the faithful brethren in Christ. It indicates a collective testimony that was bright for their Lord. They were faithful in reaching others with the Gospel. They were faithful in raising their children under the Gospel and godly principles. They were faithful in their testimony of honesty and caring to all those around. They were faithful to the teaching they had received from those servants of the Lord who had brought the Gospel to them and planted their Assembly. They were faithful in their worship and obedience to the Scriptures, including Paul’s letter to them. Although they had not much time to learn and follow the instruction in the letter, they were faithful in the time they had. This sounds like a wonderful example for us to follow.
What happened to the Colossians should remind us to never take for granted that we have many years before us. Whether by way of the Rapture, or by death, or by any number of catastrophes, we could find ourselves removed from our present situation at any time and in any manner. What would you do if you knew that you had only two years left? What would be your priority? Would you seek to cram your remaining time with excitement and entertainment, travel to as many places as possible, or experience as much of the world’s attractions as you could? Would you complete that project you always intended to build, or write that book you have always had in mind, or make as much money as possible to leave for your family? As a Christian, would you fill the time with witnessing to family members and friends to seek to see them saved, or plunge yourself into deep study of the Scriptures, or devote your time to being a help to as many of the Lord’s people as possible? Whatever your approach, make sure it falls within the description of being among the faithful brethren in Christ.
Some of those reading this message have less than two years to live. Will your few remaining months be marked by faithfulness? -Jim MacIntosh