Putting the Pieces Back Together

[This post is in a weekly devotional series called Everything New. Sign up here if you’re interested.]

All the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn’t put Humpty together again. -Nursery Rhyme

Life would be easier, wouldn’t it, if all its pieces held together. If they always made sense. If nothing ever broke off. If no part were ever lost, or twisted, or detached.

Imagine life if you could glide smoothly through the day from one of your roles to the next: mother to wife to co-manager to next-door-neighbor to aunt to friend; or brother to supervisor to dad to son to church leader. Is there one person in there somewhere? Is it possible to live as the same person at home as at work, instead of civil Jekyll in public and monster Hyde when you’re alone?

Imagine life if no one ever left, if illness never caused loved ones to drop from our lives, if the people we care about never died or deserted us.

Imagine life in Paradise. Eden was the wonderful opening chord of life, complete harmony with nothing in excess, nothing missing, nothing broken. But when that break did happen (and what an awful shattering sound it made), when human beings said, “we think we can do this on our own,” all creation shuddered and cracks spread throughout.

Our only hope from then on was that someone, somewhere would help us put the pieces back together.

When the Bible says that “in him [that is, Christ], all things hold together,” it is describing the fundamental structure of all reality. “All things” means all things. Go down to the level of the molecule, then the individual atom, and science will tell you that it is a mystery how atoms and their particles hold together. But they do. How is it that you put into your mouth meat and potatoes and vegetables, and they are broken apart, but you yourself don’t break apart? Your body keeps reorganizing itself, growing, healing. The biological pieces keep coming together, with some interruptions for illness, until that last breath moves out across your lips and the spirit departs. Only then does your body return to dust.

The divine Christ puts the pieces back together because he put it all together the first time. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15-17).

Our only hope of surviving in a broken, disconnected, fractured world is the fact that God created everything according to a grand pattern. The very meaning of the word “creation” is taking pieces and making a whole. Heaven and earth do fit together, even though it oftentimes seems as if they are two different universes. God created the visible and the invisible as one reality, though now we so often choose to live merely as bodies without souls. Why, at creation, did it all hold together? Why are there patterns to the pieces? It is because “all things were created by him and for him.”

What do you think?

Excerpt from Putting the Pieces Back Together: How Real Life and Real Faith ConnectFree DVD available now.

14 thoughts on “Putting the Pieces Back Together”

  1. With out Jesus there is no peace. If your world be shattered, turn to jesus for he is the only one that can see you through every situation. He wants to care for you. You just have to beleive and have faith.
    Roy

  2. I have come to the conclusion that God must have created the universe in a holy manner. Of course I know how sensational this must seem. But my deduction is not without some Scripture Proverbs 8:22- 31. I convinced that when God pronounced (after each creation) that it was good that He meant it was created with a holy content. By that I mean it was created according to His rules and it would run well as long as long as there was no violation of these rules. But of course there was when mankind sinned. If there was a big bang this might have been it. I say that not implying that there was a big bang there may have been or maybe not I don’t know but I do know that God is holding it together now. He by His grace holds it together.

  3. want to know if Jesus holds every thing together then Google LAMININ and see for your self watch the video

  4. Donald L Thompson

    I believe that God will put the pieces together IF we ask and permit Him to do it. We cause our bodies
    to be broken by NUT eating a he thy diet. The other way is not exercising the right amount or
    right way IF we are able. (i am conveyed to a wheel chair so certain things I can’t do, but there are
    exercises I can do.) We can break ourselves morally by doing things such elicit sex, etc.

  5. (Hi, Pastor Rick…I have been praying for you and your wife..You have been on my heart..I just wanted to let you know..I am feeling great love in my heart for you and your wife.. You are a blessing to others both of you!! Blessings)

    YES,, Its all for Him and in Him. I believe that His love for us runs so deep,,that through out history He is showing us in His word and by His disciples all He wants for us is to know in our hearts and our heads that: psalm 16:2
    He is in control ; psalm 23 and Matthew 10:28-30 and 18: 10-14
    His will be done; Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 and The Lord’s Prayer
    He wants us to choose Him Mark 6:50 Revelation 22:17
    He wants us to be very happy about that choice because we will trust, obey and lead others to Him
    We will learn that He is the glue And He has the plan.
    To me that is the most reassuring and restful place to be,
    Dear Father in heaven, Thank you so much for your love for me.Help me to show otherrs and to share your love as I continue to grow in faith.In Jesus name I pray Amen.
    (p.s How does God feel about cremation?)just wondering.. how I can find that in His word?..To return to dust?? Naturally or by man??

  6. I thank God for this devotional time..It helps me to exercise my heart and my head!! I am growing up in God and this makes me extreamly happy!! I love Jesus and His word!!!

  7. I never know what to say at the end where it says what do you think. I just want to say that I’m always glad to get these emails that do help put things together for me. Thanks.

  8. Yes, I do believe that God created “it” all. His word made it appear and His word said it was Good. God created the heaven and earth and created man in His image. However, He also gave man the ability of thought and that is what enables man to fall into pieces. As it began in the Garden of Eden, man/woman felt they did not need God…they were smart and new better. It is proven in so many lives that is not possible. Life is nicer, better, easier when adhere to God’s word. The Bible is our handbook for successful living; look up anything and not only will we see it having happened many years ago, we will also read about how to get past the wrongdoing. Yes, God is the creator of this beautiful world and it is sad to see what a mess we can make of it when we try to live on our thinking alone! God is the glue that can and will fix us but we must come to Him and ask Him to come into our life and know that without Him, not all things are possible!

  9. the message gave me wuite a bit to think about today. I have been having trials in my life, and having a very hard time putting them together. this definitely gives me time to put it together, and reflect on where I am now, and where I hope to be. Very soon.

  10. wow that is pretty deep!!! if only the people of earth would all read this! lord knows i have tried to do things on my own and only fail without relying on god’s help!!! I am truely trying to get closer to god and rely on him and trust him with all that I have, family,dogs,loved ones,friends and myself.
    Thank you for your great insight!

  11. God puts us together over and over because he is a loving and forgiving God.Of course we fall apart at times and that is when we call on God to lead us back to the complete and healthy spriritual being. I also believe in calling on God in prayer…daily…through prayer and the reading of his Word. This will get us all in the right frame of mind to receive God’s Blessings…in God’s time…not our time-table. God Bless All Who Read these words…in Jesus Christ’s Name…AMEN

  12. I think I’m totally awestruck every time I think of how perfect creation is, the natural and spiritual, and God is constantly in the renewal process. He spoke and Creation came into being. And He created us in His image for His ultimate plans and purposes, to do His will on the Earth, to be Christ’s Ambassadors and “preach the Good News of the Kingdom” to the world. As a perfect Father He graciously and mercifully puts our pieces back together when we fall, without condemnation or judgment, and steers us back to the straight and narrow path that leads to Him and continues to love us and use us to further His Kingdom, for His eternal Glory. Amen and Amen.

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