Verse 6 is often the challenge of living a solid life in Christ 24/7. Verses 6 and 7 of Chapter 2 set the conditions. There is not a verse to be found in the Bible that does not follow the “If you, then I” condition of one’s relationship with God. It means God is available, but one must SEEK him. We have all heard, or perhaps prayed ourselves, the prayer request of God to “be with” so-in-so. The question is, does one believe James 4:8? It reads: 

“Draw (one’s self) near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts…” Asking God to be with so-in-so or asking that so-in-so draw close to him are stark different.

Which action comes first? If one first draws near to God, THEN God will draw nearer to him or her. Who must make the initial move? Our prayers for others such as missionaries, Christian associates, those in sick beds, or family members should be for God to turn their hearts to him 24/7 so he can draw them nearer to him or her. This is precisely what the Bible means by God upon creation gave us free-will.

Here is an even more pointed condition found in 2 Chronicles 15:2: 

“Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you WHEN you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” Here we once again see the “If you then I” condition of our relationship with GOD. The last line in this verse is very clear: If one forsakes Him (God) He will forsake him or her. 

SADLY, THIS CONDITION IS EASILY MISSED OR REJECTED OUT OF HAND. Why? We have been fed a false promise from pulpits and others for far too many years. What our modern-day center of preaching is “God is Love.”Paul warns several times in his letter to the Church of Colossae not to be deceived. This is clearly stated in verse 8 of chapter 2: 

(NKJV) “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” 

One should read this verse several times and discuss it with other believers. This takes us back up to 2 Chronicles 15:2…” If you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” Recall that there is a reason Epaphus came to Paul in the first place. He was concerned about the differing and conflicting positions so-called men with self-proclaiming religious credentials were trying to bring into his church in Colossae.  

Jews who came out of Judaism wanted to bring Jewish practices of things like circumcision, dietary restrictions, day of worship, and religious holidays as conditions of salvation and wrongly fundamental to the Christian church. See Colossians 2:16. 

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2024