Colossians 1:17 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
Paul makes it clear that our Lord created all things, that He existed before all things, and that “by him all things consist”. In this context, to “consist” is to be held or kept as it is; thus, all that the Lord created, is protected and kept and preserved by Him. That is, Jesus Christ is “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Peter makes it very plain; he tells us that “the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (II Peter 3:7); that is, the same Lord who issued His Sovereign “word” (Command) to create all things, has also issued His Sovereign “word” (Command) to keep His creation until “the day” when He will send forth His fiery “judgement”. On “the day of” His great “judgment”, “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” (II Peter 3:10). In the meantime, neither man nor the devil can destroy the Lord’s Creation, God Himself keeps it “in store”, protecting it from destruction. We humans are not always good stewards of this earth, but we cannot destroy it. In view of God’s Sovereign Power to Create, to Preserve, and then to Destroy; Peter exhorts us this way, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (II Peter 3:11-13)!