He [Jesus] is before all things and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:17
My faith in the existence of God comes easy. Hence, I’ve always thought that it should come easy to everyone else.
Then we were blessed with children—basically stubborn little sinners being raised by two stubborn big sinners. But the reality is, there are those who insist on concrete facts before they’ll surrender ... if at all. And few are ever convinced to surrender their will to an invisible God by hearing a lame, “I just believe, that's all.”
Ask me how I know.
When apologist Frank Turek spoke at our church last February, I did the obligatory thing and purchased his book, (co-authored with Norm Geisler) I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (IDHEFTBAA).
After Frank's signature, he referenced I Peter 3:15 ...
Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
I spent the better part of the spring reading the weighty text. I gave it a good highlighting, took copious notes. A couple weeks ago, God prompted me to read through it again.
Oh how many times I’ve breezed over Colossians 1, which read to me like poetry, and subconsciously assigned them an A+ for mystery and lyricism. But when I matched these crucial verses with the vast amount of evidence for the existence of a supreme, limitless God, my faith made sense.
As God intended when he created the universe and the first man, there’s intelligent design behind it all. Even the order of appearance mattered. (I mean, on what would Adam have stood if he'd had to wait for God to speak the earth into existence?)
During my re-reading of IDHEFTBAA, I’ve been so utterly amazed at the scientific facts, investigative evidence, and historicity of scripture that I've paused to ponder the gravity of his supremacy.
Because, wow. In Christ, all things hold together!
What does that look like?
1. God—who is before all things, had no beginning, and exists outside of time, space, and matter—is choosing to suspend us in this orbit at the precise distance from the sun. Any closer or farther away and we'd not survive.
2. God provides the right percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere and regulates the carbon dioxide levels so we won’t incinerate or suffocate.
3. According to IDHEFTBAA … “If Jupiter were not in its current orbit, the earth would be bombarded with space material. Jupiter’s gravitational field acts as a cosmic vacuum cleaner, attracting asteroids and comets that might otherwise strike earth.” 😲 (I'll never look at my vacuum cleaner the same way)
God is holding the universe together.
At any moment during the writing of this post (or your reading it), he could release the elements under his control to behave as designed or renege on his covenant promise to Noah that he'd never, never cut off all life by way of destructive floodwaters. (Genesis 9:11, 15)
But over and over and over he’s spared the remnant of his people, though we’ve perpetuated the reasons why he could justifiably hurl the earth beyond the blackness of the thermosphere like a World Series pitcher and be done with us.
But in Christ, the lights are still on.
His motivation? That we would know his love.
When we go through our day and encounter reasons to kick up a fuss over things, let’s be a prayerful, thankful, and well-informed people who are encouraged by his supreme love for us.
Because he truly does have the whole universe in his hands.
✭How does knowing God chooses to hold the universe together in love help you in your current circumstances?
✭Who are the skeptics in your life who might benefit from rock-solid evidence?
Thanks for reading!
If you were inspired by today's post and know others who would enjoy it, I'd be super grateful if you'd share.
Until next time,
MARY'S FICTION SHELF
If you'd like to receive inspirational posts and/or quarterly author newsletter with bookish giveaways, subscribe here. You'll have the opportunity to download the first 3 chapters of Call to Love, my debut inspirational romance, for FREE!
✏️ This I Promise You (Gardenia Press)
Prequel to The Heart of Moreland Manor series.
What if finding your heart's desire means entrusting it ... just once more ... to the one who broke it?
Book #1 in The Heart of Moreland Manor
What if you didn't want your inheritance but it led to your greatest dream?
MARY'S DEVOTIONAL SHELF
✏️What the Morning Brings: 52 Inspirational Story-Style Devotions (Gardenia Press)
A tool to help develop the practice of asking, "What truth did the morning bring?" Perfect for those who want a breezy but soul-stirring message to jump start their day.
I appreciate your sharing "He Lives" Now it's ringing in MY heart! For some, our lives are testimony enough. I've often thought that people ought to "get it" by the fruit of the Spirit we exhibit (when we do). My challenge is that I've encountered a far more skeptical crowd who demand the facts. I didn't have much to offer. Using the book, Almighty Creator God kindly prompted me to acquire ready answers, to know with confidence my faith is not blind but the most intelligent choice I could have made. I have no doubt the way you magnify Jesus so well that many will turn their hearts heavenward and ponder the Maker of it all. We are all in…
Haven't read the book Ms. Mary, but have heard of it. I agree with you about Colossians too. I couldn't help but singing the line from "He Lives" as I read your post. You know, "You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart." As I was thinking about your post, I found myself asking God to show me if He agreed or not that my life is my greatest testimony to the realness of God. If I live it in such a way that others see what God is doing in my life, then I think I'm at least on the right track. He gently reminded me that He's got some more work to do.…