He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15 NASB)
For many years, professional golfers made very little money from endorsements. Arnold Palmer was the first to make more from off-course endorsements than he did in prize money.
A handful of players in the generation that followed capitalized on this phenomenon. Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, and Fred Couples are a few who became household names because of the image that was portrayed about them by the media and their marketing partners.
However, since Tiger Woods brought so much media attention to the game of golf, many golfers are making more off their endorsement deals than they are on the golf course. Rickie Fowler is a great example of this. Image matters in professional golf.
Bryson DeChambeau, a player who received much negative media coverage early in his career, has become one of the most beloved and followed professional golfers on social media, completely changing his image.
Public image matters greatly today, whether for professional golfers, other celebrities, or even corporations. Though media forums have changed drastically over the last century, the image has always been important, regardless of the culture. Because of this, I find today’s verse very interesting.
In Paul’s letter to the body of believers in Colossae, he declared that Jesus was/is the “image of the invisible God.” What does this mean for us?
It means that we now know God’s characteristics that we can relate to. We know who he is and what he cares about. We know that he is relational, compassionate, and loving. He is more concerned about being known for what he is for than the rules he is against.
He is not a God of religious practice; instead, he is all about loving one another. Many Old Testament prophets declared this, but man has always wanted to put God in a box and define him by rules and rituals. This was what Paul (Saul of Tarsus) thought about God before he met Jesus on the Road to Damascus. From that moment on, Paul began to learn more about God as he got to know the person of Jesus.
This is my encouragement to you today: Read scripture to get to know Jesus’ person, and you will get to know the God of the universe. Be open to letting him change some of your thoughts and worldview about things that you think are important right now.
The Apostle John wrote, “grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Imagine what else you might learn about God if you get to know Jesus more intimately!
Prayer: Jesus, allow me to know you fully as God’s representative and image.