For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians1:16-17
Here, in his letter to the Colossians, Paul is talking about Jesus who was co-creator with the Father and the Spirit.
Two things to note about this beautiful passage:
1. The extent of creation and attention to detail. ALL things were created by Him: Heaven, Earth, Visible, Invisible, Thrones, Powers, Rulers, Authorities - All things.
There is nothing that has not received the intimate attention of the Triune Creator. Nothing was left to accident. I have a unique finger-print and each zebra has its own pattern. We are cherished creations and God broke the mould when He made me and when He made you.
2. All things hold together in Him. Creation isn't like a clock that the watchmaker builds, winds up and then observes from a distance. He actively sustains creation - He holds it in His hands. He in INterested in His creation. It's just as it was in Genesis 1: The Spirit still hovers above creation.
Jesus reminded the disciples of this: Not a sparrow falls to the ground without God's knowledge and the very hairs on our heads are numbered.
This is easy to believe when things are going well and our prayers are being answered. It's harder to believe when we engage the heartache and suffering in our world and in our lives. Here we have to return to the two circles of "allows" and "wills" that we drew on Friday. We must recognise that, in the flogging, the crucifixion and His God-forsaken death, Jesus is INcarnate to creation and sustains it by conquering sin, death and Satan. It's not the absence of trouble, but that He is at work IN our trouble.
"LORD help us to know You are at work IN our lives even when we struggle to see You."
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Theo Groeneveld theo @ emmanuel.org.za
