Thought for the Month - August 2018

"Holding it all together" by Barry Adair
(Superglue)

I was thinking about glue this month and "Superglue" in particular. Superglue is one of the most ingenious products created by man, yet its discovery was purely accidental. In fact, it took 2 accidents, both years apart to create Superglue.

Back in 1942, Dr Harry Coover was trying to create a crystal-clear plastic gun sight for use during WW2. His compound did not work well for creating gun sights as it just stuck to everything prior to setting hard. However, he quickly abandoned his discovery as it didn't do the job in hand. Then, 9 years later in 1951, Fred Joyner was using Coover's compound on a project to create heat-resistant jet canopies. Joyner decided to test it as a glue and soon found its brilliant sticking properties. "Superglue" entered the market in 1958 and has sold in its millions. Since its creation, the formula has remained much the same; however, stronger versions have been created that have enough strength to attach chairs to the ceiling!

Before I had looked into the origin of Superglue, I had always heard that it was invented to glue wounds on the battlefield. This is partially true as it was indeed used during the Vietnam War to help close the wounds of the soldiers. But don't try this at home kids! Another weird fact is that applying Superglue to damp cotton wool can actually produce enough heat to catch on fire. Superglue only requires water to activate it. This trick has been employed by people in survival situations allowing them to light a fire.

And the reason I was thinking about Superglue? It's all down to a verse I read recently in the Bible. That's it below…

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)

Paul (aided by Timothy) was writing to the folk at Colossae (present day Turkey). He gives a wonderful description of the Lord Jesus in this chapter and presents Him as totally incomparable to everyone else or anything else. I love the language Paul uses to summarise the creation of all things and Jesus' supreme role in this event. He then adds intriguingly, that in Jesus, all things hold together. So, not only were all things created by Him (Colossians 1:16) but all things are also held together by Him! You will see now why Superglue jumped into my head.

As I wondered about this holding together of all things, a quick search on the internet for "in Him all things hold together" from Colossians 1:17 brought up this old poetic commentary on the power of Jesus…

He upholds all things by the word of his power; the heavens have their stability and continuance from Him; the pillars of the earth are borne up by Him, otherwise that and the inhabitants of it would be dissolved; the angels in heaven are confirmed in their estate by Him, and have their standing and security in Him; the elect of God are in His hands, and are His peculiar care and charge, and therefore shall never perish; yea, all mankind live and move, and have their being in Him; the whole frame of nature would burst asunder and break in pieces, was it not held together by Him; every created being has its support from Him, and its consistence in Him; and all the affairs of providence relating to all creatures are governed, directed, and managed by Him, in conjunction with the Father and the blessed Spirit.

Scientists know of a force which keeps matter (i.e. everything in existence, including you and me) from flying apart. All the positively charged protons in every nucleus should really repel each other (electromagnetic force), thereby ripping each nucleus apart. But this doesn't happen because of a force. Scientists call it the "strong nuclear force" but I like to think of it as Superglue as it sticks the particles together! So inside every nucleus this strong nuclear force overcomes the electromagnetic force and prevents the electrical repulsion of protons from blowing the nucleus apart.

Jesus holds all life together. He is the Superglue for the infinite cosmos and He is the Superglue for every atomic particle. He made all things and He maintains all things. He holds all things together. If we need someone in our lives to help us 'keep it together', then Jesus is that Person!

Now, can I ask if you always hold it all together? Do the hassles and pressures and disappointments of life ever get you down? Perhaps you 'lose it' sometimes when anger bubbles to the surface at sticky times? All very understandable as it's all very human! Well, Jesus was human too and yet He was still the only begotten Son of God. Even though He created everything, He entered His own creation as a helpless babe. He experienced our world, our struggles, our pain, our anger and yet all without sin. If we are broken, only He can stick us back together again. He is the ultimate Superglue. Although Superglue was invented by accident, this world wasn't some fluke of evolution. Everything was designed and created to plan, right down to how Jesus would die to bring reconciliation to His redeemed children.

I wanted to end this month with the potentially scary thought of what would happen if Jesus removed this 'holding together of all things' i.e. say the glue became un-sticky?! There is another intriguing verse in the Bible which hints at such an event…

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10, emphasis mine)

Remember that trick with Superglue to produce heat? And remember that "strong nuclear force" which keep all the atoms (elements) in the Universe from blowing apart? My take on this verse is that Jesus' 'holding together of all things' would be divinely removed, leading to the end of all matter in our Universe. However, please read this passage and others to make your own mind up. And of course, from other Bible passages we know that a new heaven and a new earth will replace the present ones. Those who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ will have a home for eternity with Him.

Please dwell on all these things. Jesus made you and if you are broken, only He can put you back together again. Someday our life will end and someday even our world will end! Jesus is the ultimate Creator, Redeemer, Healer, Fixer and Saviour. If you don't know Him, please seek Him. And if you do know Him, then stick to Him like glue!

Until next month (DV)…

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!