Invisible forces ∙∙

Invisible forces ∙∙

By faith, we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible. – Hebrews 11:3

Colossians 1:15-16

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him, God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

Over the past hundred years, countless hidden aspects of our world have been uncovered through advancements in technology. We’ve brought into view microscopic wonders like blood cells, single-celled organisms, atoms, mitochondria, and DNA. Beyond that, we’ve also captured sights of distant galaxies and stars that were once only the stuff of imagination.

One person who dedicated her career to exploring what was once unseen was Dr. Liane B. Russell. Her pioneering research focused on the impact of invisible radiation on developing embryos. Following Austria’s Nazi invasion in 1938, Dr. Russell fled her homeland and ultimately settled at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee in 1947—just two years after atomic bombs devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki. At that time, there was a strong push in the United States to understand radiation’s effects on the human body.

Dr. Russell’s studies revealed that the first seven weeks of pregnancy are especially critical for fetal development when it comes to radiation exposure. Since it can take time for a woman to recognize she is pregnant, Dr. Russell proposed scheduling non-urgent X-rays during the 14 days after the start of a woman’s menstrual cycle. This precautionary guidance has shaped global medical practices and is why healthcare providers often ask women about the possibility of pregnancy before taking X-rays.

However, not all things unseen are physical. The Father God is beyond the reach of human sight. How can we know Him? He revealed Himself fully through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul explained that although the Son is distinct from the Father in personality, He shares the same divine nature.

Through the incarnation, the eternal Son of God entered our world, becoming human—real flesh and blood. To understand what the Father is like, we need only look to the Son, who is the perfect representation of the unseen God.

Colossians 1:15 says, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.”

To understand the nature of the Father, we look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, the invisible God is made knowable, tangible, and approachable. Jesus embodies the essence of God in a way that we can perceive and relate to. He is the perfect representation of God’s character and being, offering humanity a glimpse of the divine in a way we can comprehend.

Imagine a family portrait featuring a father and his son. Often, even accounting for the differences in age, their resemblance can be so striking that they seem almost like identical twins. This comparison provides a glimpse into the relationship between Father God and the Son of God. If we had a photograph of the Lord Jesus Christ, He would bear a striking resemblance to an image of the Father. Just as the son mirrors the father in such portraits, Christ reveals the very nature and heart of God to us.

John 1:18 tells us, “No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is Himself God and is near to the Father’s heart, has revealed Him to us.” Through Jesus, the unseen Father is unveiled, allowing humanity to truly see and know God.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is the Creator and Sustainer of all things visible and invisible.

Father, how remarkable it is that You sent Your Son to reveal Your essence and nature to us. He is the flawless reflection of who You are. Yet, what fills us with the most wondrous awe is Your choice to adopt us as Your children and draw us close as friends (John 1:12, John 15:15).

INSIGHT

But Jesus Christ is so much more than this! How can He transcend even being the perfect representation of deity? The astonishing truth of Scripture reveals that it was not the Father who brought creation into existence—it was the Son! This is a revelation that might surprise many, yet the Bible explicitly affirms this role of the Lord Jesus Christ in relation to the Father.

Colossians 1:15-16 declares,
“He is the image of the invisible God, existing before all creation and supreme over it. For through Him, God created the heavens and the earth—everything visible and invisible, including thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities in the unseen realms. Everything was created through Him and for Him.”

This profound truth highlights Christ’s divine authority and His unparalleled role in the grand design of creation. Everything, seen and unseen, finds its origin and purpose in Him.

The apostle John expressed the same concept using different words.

John 1:3 states, “Through Him all things were made; without Him, nothing was made that has been made.” This verse reveals an intriguing truth. The language, “all things through Him came into being,” emphasizes Jesus, the Word, as the agent of creation. Yet the broader context affirms that God is the ultimate source of creation. This dual truth resolves the seeming paradox (UBS).

“Similar expressions are found in Paul’s writings and the Letter to the Hebrews. In 1 Corinthians 8:6, Paul distinguishes between ‘God, the Father, who is the creator of all things’ and ‘Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created.’ Again, in Colossians 1:15-16, Paul refers to ‘the first-born Son,’ by whom ‘God created everything in heaven and on earth.’ In Hebrews 1:2, the writer speaks of the Son as ‘the one through whom God created the universe’” (UBS). These passages consistently highlight the Son’s vital role in bringing all things into existence.

Interestingly, this theological insight aligns with contemporary scientific perspectives. Modern science in the 21st century has revealed that much of creation remains unseen yet deeply impactful. From the invisible particles composing matter to the air we breathe and even the emotions that influence our decisions—all these imperceptible forces profoundly shape our reality. Both Scripture and science remind us that the unseen is just as real, vital, and wondrous as the visible.

When we focus on the microscopic scale, we find that atoms consist of protons, electrons, neutrons, and vast amounts of empty space. Electrons move around the nucleus at incredible speeds, making it impossible to pinpoint their exact position at any given time. Instead, they appear as diffuse clouds, seemingly occupying all spaces at once.

On the other hand, when we shift our attention to the vastness of the universe, its scale feels almost infinite. There are billions of galaxies, each containing billions more stars. Many of these stars and galaxies are unimaginably massive, traveling at staggering speeds. Until recently, much of this grandeur remained hidden from our view.

Yet, whether we consider the smallest particles or the immense expanse of the cosmos, everything operates with remarkable order. Even within random and complex systems, patterns emerge—sequences that repeat, fractals that echo self-similarity, and systems that organize themselves. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who sustains it all. He is the one who governs and ensures every detail of creation holds together with flawless precision.

Reflecting on this, doesn’t it seem right to honor and worship the Father? He is the eternal, immortal, and unseen King who reigns in transcendent glory. Yet this mighty and omnipotent God chose to intervene in human history, sending His Son into the world to redeem all who put their faith in Him, saving them from sin and its eternal consequences (1 Timothy 1:17).

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© Dr. H 2024