For, just as in the case of one who speaks, when he stops speaking, his voice ceases and disappears, so also with the heavenly Father, should he stop speaking his Word, the effect of his Word - the created universe - would cease to exist.

  - Eriugena, Homily on John 1.1-14 (Irish, 9th century)

Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

  - Psalm 117.1, 2

Here is a mystery: The entire vast cosmos, and everything in it, is held together by the continuous "speaking" of God to it, by the upholding power of His Word (Heb. 1.3). God spoke the world into existence, and by His continuing to speak to it, it continues to exist.

I am of the opinion that, whenever the psalmists refer to the "steadfast love" and "faithfulness" of the Lord, it is this "speaking" to the creation they have in mind. Nothing exists but what God speaks to continually. What does that mean?

I confess I'm not sure; but of this much I'm quite convinced: God keeps us going. God causes the breath to blow through us, the blood to course within us, the synapses to carry their charges, the chemicals to do their work throughout our body. Nothing in us or in all the cosmos happens because of blind, impersonal "law." There are no such "laws." Only God, speaking. God speaks to His creation, and it continues.

Even as we sleep, quite unmindful of God and unconcerned about His work or glory, He speaks to us and keeps us alive. Even when we're awake but not thinking of Him, He is speaking to us. When we sin and disobey, He faithfully continues, full of grace and strength, to speak us into ongoing existence.

It would be impossible to measure the depths of God's love for us or to count the number of His thoughts toward us each day. He loves us intimately, completely, continuously, and without fail.

And how do we return the favor? Are our thoughts toward God as constant as His toward us? Do we praise and thank Him as much as we should? Do we declare to our neighbors that the steadfast love of God and His faithfulness endure forever?

God speaks to us, and we live. When we speak from Him to others, others live. The speech of the Father should lead us to speak for the Father and to call the world to rest in the grace of His Son.

That this does not much happen indicates that we do not really understand how much our heavenly Father loves and cares for us.

Or what would happen if ever He ceased doing so.

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.