JESUS, THE BRIGHTNESS OF GOD'S GLORY

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Devotion 10 of 14

THE GLORIFIED SUSTAINER

    How marvelous are the attributes of Jesus! He made everything in every dimension, and it was all made for Him! Still, it does not end there! He sustains it all! He is presently "sustaining all things by his powerful word" (NIV). Elsewhere the Spirit testifies of Jesus, "He Himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Col 1:17, NRSV). The word "hold together," or "consist" is an interesting one. It means to "put together, or cohere; to stand together, or have existence; i.e., to continue." Men speak of the law of gravity, centrifugal and centripetal force, and other "natural laws." They speak as though the universe was held together by laws that have been set in motion. Their analysis of things may appear to justify their conclusion, but it is still wrong. The exalted Christ keeps the universe from disintegration. The orderliness and precision of the creation are owing to its Creator, not laws or principles.

 Technically speaking, there is no happenstance in what men call "nature." These forces are all marshaled and controlled by the Son of God! He can "call for" a "judgment by fire," which dries up the great deep and devours the land (Amos 7:4, NIV). By His word He can call for an increase of grain (Ezek 36:29), or for a famine in the land (Psa 105:16). Even in a "whirlwind and the storm," He has His way (Nah 1:3). He can cause rain to come or cease to come (Deut 11:14). He can extend a day, causing the sun to shine in its brightness beyond its appointed time (Josh 10:12-13). If He commands ravenous birds to bring food to His prophet, they will do so (1 Kgs 17:4). In Him is the word fulfilled; "When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants, it is I who keep its pillars steady. Selah" (Psa 75:3, NRSV). It is no wonder that the twenty-four elders before the Throne speak thus of Him. "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Rev 4:11, NIV).

 Yet it is not nature alone that is held together by the "word of His power!"  The whole redemptive economy is in Christ's hand! If we marvel at creation, we will marvel more at the "great salvation" over which He presides. Why is it that "all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to His purpose" (Rom 8:28). It is not because things have been locked into a specific direction and appointed end! It is "the Word of His power" that brings things together for our ultimate good! This is why "no man" is able to remove the believer from the grasp of Deity (John 10:27-29). It is why Paul, under great duress, could say, " . . . I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance" (Phil 1:19, NIV).

 Our salvation, down to the most meticulous detail, is supervised and held together by the Lord Jesus Christ. He mediates the covenant in which we find ourselves (Heb 9:15; 12:24). He intercedes before the Father on the behalf of those who have received the atonement (Heb 7:25). He monitors our temptations, not allowing them to exceed our ability, and seeing to it they come with an escape route (1 Cor 10:13). Our Lord dispatches angelic hosts to protect and minister to us (Heb 1:13-14). Even the Holy Spirit functions under Him for the good of God's people! Our complete confidence in Him is fully justified from every conceivable view.

PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ Your Son, help me to not be distracted by circumstance, and thus led to forget my Savior is still upholding everything by the word of His power.

-- Tomorrow: HE PURGED OUR SINS --