Held Together
"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." — Colossians 1:17
It’s easy to divide life into categories like our church life, school life, work life, family life, and free time. In doing so, we can unintentionally live as though God is deeply concerned with certain parts of our lives while remaining largely indifferent to the rest. But Scripture paints a very different picture. Christ is Lord over every aspect of our lives, and in Him all things are held together with purpose, meaning, and care.
In Colossians 1, the apostle Paul paints one of the most poignant portraits of Jesus Christ in all of Scripture. He reminds us that Jesus is not simply Lord over creation, but also its Creator, Sustainer, and King. Everything exists because of Christ. He is the source of all creation. From the most intricate cell in the human body to the vastness of galaxies beyond our imagination, nothing has come into existence apart from Him. Creation did not simply begin with Jesus and then continue on its own. Every moment of every day depends upon His sustaining power. As Paul writes in this year’s theme verse, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” All of life is held together by Him. Scientists study the laws of nature. Engineers rely on the consistency of mathematics and physics. Doctors marvel at the complexity of the human body. Yet behind every law of nature, every beating heart, every sunrise, and every breath stands the sovereign Christ, faithfully sustaining His creation. The universe continues not because it is self-sufficient, but because Christ continually upholds it by His perfect will.
The world often tells us that life is about personal fulfillment, success, or happiness. Scripture tells a different story. We were created to know Christ, worship Christ, and glorify Christ. Our gifts, careers, relationships, possessions, and opportunities ultimately find their purpose in Him, and in Him all things are held together.
At Ripon Christian, we believe every subject points to Christ. Mathematics, literature, science, history, art, and athletics are not separate from God but reveal His wisdom, creativity, and faithfulness. Every lesson is an opportunity to better understand His world and to prepare students to serve Him faithfully. We are excited to explore this theme with students this year.
This truth also transforms the ordinary moments of life. Parents raising children, students completing homework, teachers planning lessons, coaches leading practices, business owners serving customers, and retirees investing in others are all called to live under the lordship of Christ. There is no sacred-secular divide. Every task becomes an act of worship when it is done in grateful obedience to Him. Perhaps the greatest comfort found in Colossians 1:17 is this: if Christ holds the entire universe together, He is certainly able to hold our lives together. When circumstances feel uncertain, plans change unexpectedly, or suffering enters our lives, we can rest knowing that nothing falls outside His sovereign care. The One who governs the stars also governs our days, and in Him all things are held together. He is never surprised, never absent, and never powerless.
The same Savior who created all things entered His creation, shed His blood on the cross, rose from the grave, and now reigns over all. Because He is before all things and holds all things together, we can trust Him completely. May we live each day remembering that everything exists because of Christ, through Christ, and ultimately for Christ, and in Him all things are held together.