Gravity: Held Together by God: A Study of the Church from Ephesians

Think big. Think galaxy big. The observable universe is reported to have an estimated 200 billion galaxies or more. If our galaxy is anything like them, then they each have nearly 100 billion solar systems inside. Our system comprises of eight unique planets that orbit around one large star, the sun. Each of these systems, big and small, are held together by an attractive force called gravity.

Now, think bigger. Think God big. "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" (Col. 1:15-16). He made all that stuff, as well as the stuff we haven't ventured out far enough to find yet. He made it all. And, since it was made by Him and for Him, He has a vested interested in it all. So He keeps it alive. He keeps it moving. "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Col. 1:17).

Finally, think small. Think church small. It might not sound like a worthwhile idea, but there is a spiritual gravity at work in your community. God says that the church is "joined and held together" by the power of God for the purpose of God's perfecting work (Eph. 4:16). As the sun, a galactic center, pulls stars and planets inward to maintain perfect order and rotation, so the Son pulls you and others inward to maintain a perfect order and function.

Where are you in God's cosmic system? Are you perfectly orbiting the Lord contributing to His cosmic infinite purpose? Or do you spend all of your energies trying to defy the attractive force of God's gravity?

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16)