He sends out His command to the earth; His Word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; He scatters hoarfroast like ashes. He hurls down His crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold? He sends out His Word, and melts them; He makes His wind blow and the waters flow.

   - Psalm 147.15-18

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. For the very continuance of the created universe is the speech of God the Father, the eternal and unchangeable generation of his Word.

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

The world and everything in it continue to exist only by the pleasure and power of God. Were it not that the Word of God, enthroned at the Father’s right hand, upholds all things by His power, they would all cease to be. 

The secularist snorts at such a notion; most Christians hardly give it a thought. But it is a summons to unending thanks and praise, a reason to marvel and tremble before a power and might we cannot even begin to fathom. Every electron circling the nucleus of every atom throughout the whole vast cosmos holds its course, not because of some impersonal material “law” insisting it must, but because the Word of God commands and sustains it in precisely the course and function He has determined. 

So regular – the Scriptures would say, “faithful” – is the Word of God in His maintenance of the cosmos that His ways (past finding out) can appear to take the form of physical laws. But they only appear thus, for He is free to suspend or alter His ways at His pleasure, at which time we observe miracles. 

Contemplate the wonder which is your hand, and realize that everything about that marvelous member is what it is, and your hand can do what it does, because of the unremitting, personal attention of the Word of God. His steadfast love truly endures forever, and we see it in all the ways He sustains the world.

If you ever have cause to doubt the love of God for you, or to wonder if He has withdrawn His presence from you, look at your hand and consider its beauty, intricacy, detail, and design, as well as all the marvels it can perform; and as you do, know that He is with you always, He will never fail you nor forsake you.

His steadfast love for you endures forever.

Psalm 147.15-20 (St. Ann: “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past”)
His Word to earth runs to and fro to carry out His will;
He brings the rain, He sends the snow, and none can keep Him still. 

His Word He to His Church bestows – His promises and Law –
No other nation God thus knows:  praise Him with songs of awe!

Lord, let me see in all created things Your vast goodness, benevolence, and power! Adapted from Augustine Hibernicus, On the Miracles of Holy Scripture.

For more on the witness of creation to the greatness and love of God, order the book, Consider the Lilies: A Plea for Creational Theology, from our online store.