He Upholds Everything
“In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Hebrews 1:2-3
I just finished reading this incredible book written by a particle physicist. He sheds new light on these wonderful verses for today. The author says we limit our view of the Creator when we think of him as though he were a painter, sweeping broad brushstrokes across nature, layer after layer, and standing back to admire his handiwork. That’s too static.
A better picture is to imagine him as the inventor of, let’s say, a television picture. God has his hands on all the right knobs and buttons. As he jiggles and fine-tunes them, the image on the screen is sustained. A billion sparks of light flash across the screen in just the right order with just the right timing and sequence. As long as God controls all the billions upon billions of details to create the image on the screen, the reality of it all continues.
If he were to take his hands off the controls, the image on that TV screen wouldn’t become chaotic; it would just cease to be. That’s the best way to describe Hebrews 1:3: he is upholding right now, this instant, all things by his powerful word.
Think about all the intricate inventions with which we surround ourselves: our timed dishwashers, our CD players, our video cams, our cars. Now think of the way God keeps things up and running in the entire universe—everything from DNA to weather patterns, from magnetic fields in space to the ants in your backyard. Take a minute to express awe with someone about our awesome Creator.
Father God, how astounding that you’ve expressed your creative self so liberally in life. Thank you not only for your inventiveness but also for your sustaining power.
God’s Power in Weakness
Looking back on 55 years in a wheelchair, Joni reflects on the Lord’s faithfulness amid her adversity. She shares how trusting God through hardship has given her strength to not only persevere but live with hope and joy!
