Romans 11:35 “For from him, and through him, and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” 

Everything in creation comes from God. Christians who recite the creeds in church remind themselves of this every Sunday. “I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,” the Apostle’s Creed begins. The Nicene creed adds, “and of all things visible and invisible.” His creating hand has been responsible for all we have and enjoy.

Then, we can say that everything in creation is “through him.” The Lord didn’t just wind the universe up and let it go. His loving hands still play a direct role in everything that happens. He not only provides the good gifts we enjoy from him. He is also the One who has brought them to us. He still delivers every possession we have, whether material or spiritual.

This means that all things are “to him.” Perhaps this phrase is the hardest of the trio to understand. What does it mean that all things are “to God”? This is a way of saying that everything finds its purpose, its reason for existing, in God. It all exists for his glory. No thing and no person will be able to escape serving his gracious purpose in the end.

Do you find some peace here? Does it give you some assurance as you grapple with life? All we have and are is the creation of this wise and loving God. He still very much involves himself in our lives. He brings us his gifts and gives us life as he directs every experience and supports the existence of all things through his power and love. We have the confidence that, whatever we may have, or be, or look like now, in some way we exist to him. We are serving his glory, a glory that shines brightest when he is saving us from sin and preparing us for heaven.

The Lord’s works and ways often leave us with the question “Why?” There is a humility that can explore the answer to that question without harm to faith or criticism of God. But there is also a time be content that he has the answer, even if he isn’t sharing it with us. His greatness far exceeds our own. And that is a good thing. “To him be the glory forever. Amen.”