Holding It Together

Aug. 10

Read: Colossians 1:15-17

Holding It Together

“He (Jesus) 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.” - Colosians 1:15-17

Jesus is the source of EVERYTHING that is and that has ever been. It is crazy to think of really! Paul was writing in a day and age when the government and authorities surrounding believers were adamantly against them. Paul himself was jailed for his faith. People could easily have felt as though things were “falling apart”. The Lord’s reminder through Paul: “Jesus is holding it together”. I am sure when they looked at the corrupt government or the powers aligned against them, these early believers would have thought that maybe the “thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities” were somehow outside of Jesus’ purview … but THEY ARE NOT.

The scriptures specifically state this for us: “For by (Jesus Christ) 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.” It is odd to think of the way that God inspired Paul to include that little side not… the “clarification”. Those things which we may feel have great power over us are actually subservient to Christ. Jesus is the creator and sustainer of ALL THINGS. This is challenging when we realize that there are indeed things that war AGAINST Jesus. We could be tempted to attribute those things to something or someone else… as if there is another possible origin for things in this universe. There is not. Everything that this is… every created thing… is BY Jesus, THROUGH Jesus, FOR Jesus, and held together IN Jesus. This includes places like hell, fallen-angels like Satan, your favorite pastor, the car you drive to work, YOU, the last president, the next president, the idea of presidents in general, and the tree in your backyard! All of it. Created by, through, for, and in Jesus Christ.

Paul acknowledges that this includes the “visible and invisible”. It is crucial for us to realize that there is an invisible realm and work going on around us. There is a plan and a purpose that we do not always see. Every ounce of creation is a part of this plan… every created thing. Jesus is holding it all together… even when it seems like it is falling apart! He is holding you and I together… and the Lord knows we need it! This is a part of the way that God is “present everywhere”. Although God’s presence is not the same everywhere… he is indeed present in that all things are held together in God the Son… Jesus.

It makes sense that we should “squirm” a little when the world is going haywire… because in a way we are all connected… we are all being “held together in Christ”. This DOES NOT MEAN everyone is a Christian or that nothing will ever be destroyed. What it does mean is that there is a way where our lives are connected with creation and others in our origin which is Jesus. We are not the only things “groaning for redemption”. Look at creation itself: “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God…For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Rom. 8:19,22,23) There is a way we are connected to creation and to others because of the way that we are ALL held together in Christ. Not everything “in Christ” has the same destiny or outcome. Not everything held together “in Christ” will be saved. Nevertheless, there is a unique way that all things share their common origin in Jesus.

I think this might be what some lost people are sensing when they talk about the “oneness of the universe” or something to that effect. I think this is why Jesus calls us to “love our neighbor as ourself” and to “love our enemies” because there is a unique way we are all being held together by HIM. (cf. Matt 5:43, 22:39, etc.) ALL of creation will one day be “set free from its bondage to corruption”. Those who are “in Christ Jesus” that are adopted as sons and daughters, we also are eagerly waiting to receive the full “freedom of the glory of the children of God”. “We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our bodies (Rom. 8:21,23) This is why we are called the “family of God”. This is how we as “God’s children” are distinct from the other people that are being “held together” by Christ.

For today, know this: When you feel like you are falling apart… trust Jesus to hold you together. When the world looks like it is spinning out of control… remember Jesus has it under control. Some of what has been created was created for destruction - created by Jesus for him to destroy. There are “kingdoms” in this world that Jesus made that will be swallowed up by the KINGDOM of GOD. There are angels that were made and that fell … rebelled…who are now being kept together until the day of judgement by Jesus. Satan, who is a created being… a fallen angel… is being “held together in Christ”. He will one day suffer his punishment and destiny. While we wait - “groaning” - may we realize that we are connected to one other and to this world. May we love our “neighbors as ourselves” because in a weird way we are both “held together in Christ”. So here is to the “firstborn of all creation” and the source of ALL things… our big brother Jesus! Love you guys. - JDP