The same word that created the earth also upholds it. We quote again the words concerning Christ: “For in Him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions, principalities or powers; all things have been created through Him, and unto Him; and He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16, 17, R.V.). To consist means to hold together. Therefore all things on the earth, and the earth itself, owe their continued existence to Christ. So Paul declared on Mars’ Hill, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
This upholding is by His word. Thus: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointedheir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3). Christ is the Divine Word; He is in the spoken word; and so, since all things hold together in Him, they are upheld by His powerful word.
Read also the words written by the apostle Peter: “By the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:5-7). The same word that made the earth caused its overflow by a flood, brought it transformed from the waters, and still upholds it. That word, therefore, must indeed be substantial. It is more real and solid than the earth itself, even as the foundation of a thing must be more substantial than the thing. That word “liveth and abideth forever” (1 Peter 1:23). Therefore the one who trusts it will never be at a loss.
There will come a time when “the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage” (Isaiah 24:19, 20); when every island shall flee away, and “the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” But even in that awful time the Christian can say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear” (Psalm 46:1, 2).