Jesus said to His disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Although these words were spoken to Jesus’ disciples concerning the power working in and through them in their commitment to Him, the words “without me you can do nothing” apply to everyone still breathing air on this planet, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Col 1:16,17)
The above quoted verse of Scripture speaks of Jesus, of course.
The word “consist” means, to keep in place, hold together. In other words, nothing can exist and keep on existing without Jesus permitting it to be so. You and I exist and are alive for no other reason but by His command as Creator. The significance of this truth is of gargantuan importance to everyone, as will be seen.
We understand from the following that Jesus was and is the Word of God and that all things were created by Him.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 - The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 - All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:4 - In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:9 -10 - That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Just take a hold of that; Jesus, God in the flesh, was walking among the human race that He created so that He could ‘orchestrate’ the salvation of every human being and He is continuing to do so through everyone committed to Him for this purpose. If we are committed to Him, then we are His disciples. We now exist only for the duration of His grace until time runs out for salvation.
How do we know that the time will run out?
“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:” (Rev. 10:5,6)
When will this happen? All the conditions (as prophesied) for “there should be time no longer” are now in place. Just take a look at the world. You are observing the end of the end of the age when Jesus will return. “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 Pet. 3:9,10)
For what reason will Jesus be returning?
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” (2th 1:7-9)
Now begs the question; how do we manage to do anything in life?
We go through the motions of everyday life – working, playing, entertaining, singing, dancing, driving, shopping, screaming, shouting, moaning, groaning, gossiping and wallowing in our own self-centeredness and self-importance – all made possible by one thing and one thing alone. That one thing is the fact that we “consist” by the Person who said, “without me you can do nothing.”
For as long as Jesus holds us in existence – “by him all things consist” – we can continue in our wicked ways; ignore Him; reject Him; pay no attention to His disciples and remain oblivious to the truth until “there should be time no longer.”
Death is not the end of life. Death is a transition from one place to another that either represents “everlasting destruction” or “everlasting life”. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” (John 6:47)
Now we should take another look at the world and also take a look at ourselves. Where do we stand? Whatever the case, we need to realize that we are able to do so only because of these words; “without me you can do nothing.” We should write these words on the mirror we look into every day.