... upholding all things
by the word of his power ..."
Heb 1:3 KJV

Last week launched PART I of our three-part series with a look at God's Creative Power, beginning our study of what happens When God Speaks. We marveled at God's breathtaking ability to create substance out of absolutely nothing. This week we will look at the power of God's prophetic Word to uphold His creation and all those who trust in Him. We will commence by looking at the Word's Sustaining Power in the natural realm, and conclude by looking at the Word's Sustaining Power in the spiritual realm.

In the Natural Realm. Late in the 17th century, Isaac Newton published his theory on gravity, postulating that all mass contains gravitational power. What then keeps the planets from "falling" in to the sun? Newton theorized that the planets' motion around the sun, in conjunction with the sun's gravitational power, sustains their orbits. Thus the twin forces of gravity and motion keep our solar system humming.

Newton went further. He said that gravity and motion not only hold the planets in their places, but that every celestial body in the universe attracts every other celestial body. Therefore in scientific terms, the entire universe is held in place by motion and gravitational power.

The word "upholding" in the passage above is taken from the Greek word phero and is translated several different ways throughout the New Testament. One meaning is "to bear up or keep from falling," a clear reference to our discussion of gravity and motion. But other places in scripture this Greek word is translated as "bring," "endure," or "carry."

The first chapter of the book of John leaves no doubt that Jesus Christ is God's Word (John 1: 1-14). So, when Colossians tells us that "...by Him all things consist," (Col. 1:17 KJV) we conclude that it is by the Word that all things consist. In this passage, the word translated as consist is taken from the Greek word sunivsthmi and means to place together, to set in the same place, to bring or band together. Other places in scripture translate this same word as "with" or "commend." Through God's Word, all things are held together "with" one another and "commended" to each other in their order and dependencies.

Job said, "... He hangs the earth on nothing" (Job 26:7 NKJV).

The Spiritual Realm. Not only does God manage and hold together His creation with His Word, His Word also sustains and upholds all who trust in Him.

"... that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary..." (Isaiah 50:4 KJV).

"Your words are what sustain me..." (Jeremiah 15:16 KJV).

"... may your laws sustain me." (Psalm 119:175 KJV)

Like creation, we too are held together "...by the Word of His power ..." (Heb. 1:3) In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Whether God is busy holding together a galaxy or simply nurturing one singular life, His prophetic Word is much like gravitational power - it sustains all that exists so that He may be glorified.

Can you think of other ways that God sustains by His Word? Other scriptures that relate to our theme? Send us your comments and feedback and we will post them on our site.

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