The Focal Point

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20 ESV).

 

Leonardo da Vinci and other artists in the Italian Renaissance mastered the use of the focal point and the vanishing point, which give perspective to a painting. They learned that objects near you appear larger, while objects in the distance seem smaller. So, if you want to draw a house that looks natural, draw lines from the peak of the roof and the base of the foundation that extend all the way to the vanishing point on the horizon. You will begin to see the outline of the house, and then you can work from there. Similarly, the focal point in a picture is the point to which all elements in the picture draw your eye. An illustration of this technique is shown in the picture I’ve attached. Da Vinci wanted all eyes to be drawn to Jesus, thus he made Jesus at the focal point of the painting.

 

There is a larger principle in this illustration shown in our reading today. The right focus brings balance into our lives. Christ ought to be the focal point that gives perspective to our lives. Without a focal point, certain parts of life may loom too large, while other parts are not large enough. Everything is out of proportion; somehow it just doesn’t come together into a life that makes sense. It simply doesn’t balance.

 

The apostle says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (v. 2). If our lives are centered in Christ, we will have the right reference point to guide all our pathways, to help us make the many decisions necessary for a well-balanced life.

Jesus teaches us to “seek first” the kingdom of God “and his righteousness,” and all the things we need will be given to us (cf. Matthew 6:33).

 

What is your focus? Even good things can draw us away from the essential of Jesus. Whether it is something as important as family, friends, careers, or church… none of these belong at the focal point of our lives. Get your balance back by focusing on Jesus and who He is in your life today.