“He 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.” Colossians 1:15-17

Yesterday I pondered a question that was posed in my local paper: What would the world be like today if Jesus never existed? My thoughts immediately went to the cross, that if there was no Jesus, we remain dead in our sin. No cross, no propitiation. Jesus paid the price of our sin – in full – so that we might escape the wrath of God.

Just for the heck of it, I posed the same question to a bible group on Facebook. The first answer was immediate: The world wouldn’t exist.

That’s the right answer.

John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Not only did God the Father make everything through Jesus, but the entire universe is held together by him, as Paul attests to in Colossians 1:17. The writer of Hebrews does so as well.

Hebrews 1:3a He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Humans didn’t come into the picture until well after all the material world was established and settled in – on, ahem, the sixth day.

On the other end of the time spectrum of the material world, Jesus plays the lead role (again):

Revelation 5:1-5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Wow! And then….

v. 9-14 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open the seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped.

Yet, there is still much more to come. For those who believe, there is a kingdom prepared for us from the beginning of the world (Matthew 25:34). In fact, Jesus is preparing it for us – at this very moment! (John 14:2)

Listen, I could go on and on about this. The Old Testament as well as the New are full of prophesy describing what in in store for believers, as well as for those who reject our Savior. For believers, it is a picture that is beyond comprehension. Even so, the glimpses are fascinating! Spend some time today thinking about these things.

Father, Wow! All this is incredible! Amen.

Copyright © 2019 Scott Powers