).

He has the pre-eminence in sustaining His creation. All things
consist by Him. He upholds all things by the Word of His power (Heb.
i:3).

In the Revelation of God He has the pre-eminence. Both books, the
book of Nature and the Book of all books, the written Word of God,
the Bible, tell out His Glory. The Bible may be compared to a living
organism, like the human body. Every book in the Bible has a
specific place and service like the members of the body; the life in
that marvellous divinely constructed organism of the revelation of
God is the Son of God. Apart from Him there is no revelation from
God and no manifestation of God. He reveals God throughout the
Bible, in every part, He holds the pre-eminence. Greater still is
His pre-eminence in redemption. Redemption would be an eternal
impossibility without Him. He came from the Father's bosom to redeem
us. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the
Father but by Him. He gives eternal life. Furthermore as the first
born from the dead He is the head of the body. That body is the
church and every believing sinner is a member in that body. Each is
united to Him and possesses His life. This body with its many
members He keeps, nourishes, builds up, sanctifies and ultimately
glorifies. In all the great and glorious redemptive work He has the
pre-eminence.

As the glorified Man He is the Heir of God and as such He holds the
pre-eminence in heaven. He has been made so much better than the
angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name
than they. Far above all the angelic beings, higher than the
archangel is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Man in Glory.

There is a future pre-eminence for Him. The day of His visible Glory
and power is approaching. Now He is rejected, then He will be
enthroned. Upon the holy hill of Zion He will be the King of Glory.
His Glory will cover the heavens and His Majesty the earth. He will
be King of kings and Lord of lords. He will rule as the only
potentate and every knee must bow before Him. The song must at last
rise in heaven and on earth "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and
glory and blessing." Such is, briefly sketched, the pre-eminence of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Yea, in all things He hath the pre-eminence.

Can we do anything less than to give Him the first place in all
things? He is worthy of it. He died for us. He drank the cup of
w