As I was reading Colossians 1:15–20, I was once again reminded that following Jesus is not just about Sunday worship, personal devotions, or Bible studies. It’s about the totality of life—every part of it.

Too often, we live as if there’s a great divide between the spiritual and the secular. Church is for our soul; work is for our bills. Prayer is for private moments; business decisions are a different story. But the Word of God paints a very different picture—and Colossians 1 makes that crystal clear.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created… all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
—Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV)

Let give it a deep thought. Jesus is not just Lord over “church things”—He is Lord over all things. All of life is under His rule: business, government, education, medicine, family, art, media, even the traffic on EDSA. This means our faith was never meant to be hidden or compartmentalized. We are not called to live dual lives. We are called to integrate our faith into everything we do.

The False Divide

I’ve been in the financial industry long enough to know how tempting it is to keep faith and work in separate boxes. When I used to wear a business hat on weekdays and a ministry hat on weekends, I thought I was doing both well—until I realized that Jesus doesn’t want parts of me. He wants all of me. That means my values, decisions, integrity, and relationships in the workplace must reflect the same faith I profess on Sundays.

There’s no such thing as a neutral space. Every space—whether a board room, classroom, or coffee shop—is either being shaped by Christ’s kingdom or resisting it. And our calling as followers of Jesus is to bring all of Christ into all of our world.

A Cosmic Christ with a Personal Mission

Colossians 1 gives us this sweeping cosmic vision of Jesus. He is not only the Creator, He is the Sustainer—“in Him all things hold together.” Without Him, everything falls apart. With Him, everything finds purpose.

But this isn’t just high theology. This has real implications for how we live.

• Humanity and Kinship: Jesus became man—not just to rescue us from hell, but to restore our human vocation. We were meant to reflect God’s image in every sphere of life. We are His image bearers!
• Lordship: He is King, not just Savior. That means every area of life—economics, politics, law, education—comes under His authority.
• Justice and Renewal: In Luke 4, Jesus proclaimed freedom for the oppressed, sight for the blind, and good news for the poor. The gospel isn’t just private—it’s public. It confronts injustice, heals brokenness, and transforms systems.
• Victory Over Darkness: His rule extends over demonic powers, both personal and systemic. Corruption, greed, addiction, exploitation—these are spiritual issues, and Christ is victorious over them.
• Forgiveness and Justification: At the heart of the gospel is the forgiveness of sins. But forgiveness is not the end—it’s the beginning of new life under a new King.
• Reconciliation and Peacemaking: Through the cross, Jesus reconciled all things to Himself. That includes broken relationships, fractured communities, and hostile nations.
• Sanctification and Holiness: Holiness is not withdrawal from the world—it’s being set apart in the world. It’s bringing purity, wisdom, and grace into our offices, families, and society.

Real Faith, Real Life

This is the kind of faith we need today in the Philippines. A faith that works not just in church, but in Congress. A faith that speaks not just in prayer meetings, but in board meetings. A faith that doesn’t just save individuals but transforms communities.

So when you go to work tomorrow, when you lead your family, when you make a financial decision—ask yourself: Am I living like Jesus is Lord here?

Let’s reject the idea that some things are “too secular” for God. Jesus created all things. He sustains all things. And He’s redeeming all things.

Let’s stop compartmentalizing. Let’s start integrating.

Think about it!

If Jesus is Lord of all, then all of life is sacred. That includes your spreadsheet, your Zoom meeting, your barangay, and your family budget.

Let’s bring all of Christ into all of our world. Because that’s what He deserves. And that’s where we’ll truly flourish.

*This blog is inspired from the lecture of missiologist Dr. Gregg Okesson