Journey of the Word

Riddle for the day:

What one thing has all things coming to it, coming through it, and coming from it?

And by “all things,” I mean all things.

Think about it. First, you have this.

Then this.

Then this.

Put them all together, and you have this.

Or is it this?

Okay, let me give you a hint. The answer is “him.”

For from him, and through him, and to him are all things. Rom 11:36

Now that we all know the answer is God, let’s get real.

How is it possible that all things are from him? Is it just referring to the fact that he created all things? Or is it that every good and perfect gift comes from him (James 1:17)? But then what about bad and imperfect things? Do those come from him, too?

Next question. How is it possible that all things are through him? Because he’s invisible and intangible? Or is it a way of saying that things come to us from their original source by way of God? But I thought the original source was God. So then it is redundant to say everything comes from him and through him. Then why did he say both?

Next question. How is it possible that all things are to him? Does it just mean that all things are his? That they all are, or will one day be, in his presence?

All things? Seriously? How spiritual or everyday do we get here? Take joy and toothbrushes, for instance. Explain to me how joy and toothbrushes are from God, through God, and to God.

This, my friend, is what happens when you ask questions.

And when you get past the questions and the impossibilities, you find this astounding truth:

From him, and through him, and to him are all things.

 [image credit: journeyoftheword.com]