The Beginning and the End
Today’s Verse:
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. ~Revelation 22:13
Everything in life has a beginning and an end. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Among the Jewish rabbis, it was common to use the first and the last letters of the Hebrew alphabet to denote the whole of anything, from beginning to end. The Book of Revelation begins with the “Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ” and it ends with the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Lord Jesus Christ makes this profound statement in Rev. 22:13 with regards to His totality as God. He is continuously eternal and cardinally essential. As we come to the conclusion of 2017, we should consider its beginning and its ending with respect to our relationship with the Lord.
We see Jesus Who is SOVEREIGN God.
Everything owes its beginning to our Lord. “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. Our Lord has the first word and the last word in all things. We owe our start in life to Him, and one day all life will stand before Him. As sovereign God, He is our Creator, our Master, and our Judge. As the potter, He has final say in our design. He is all-powerful and able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. One day, He will judge the world in righteousness.
We see Jesus Who is SAVIOR God.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” Heb. 12:2. He is the Captain of our salvation. Only His shed blood and death satisfies the just demands of God for the sins of the world. He is God Who tasted death for every man. He is God Who “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works,” Tit.2:14. As Savior God, He is the just dying for the unjust that He might bring us to God. He alone is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. He alone is the Good Shepherd Who laid down His life for the sheep.
We see Jesus Who is SUSTAINER God.
He is not only the beginning and the end, but He is everything essential between as well. We have no life without Him. We have no salvation without Him. We have no success without Him. Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary in order that we have success. He gives us peace in our storms of life. He is our helper in our time of need. He is our burden bearer so that we are not crushed by the weight of our burdens. He gives us strength when we are weak. Paul said, “I can do all things through which strengtheneth me.” He is sufficient for all our needs. As the Great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant, He makes us perfect and complete to do all the will of God.
As we end 2017, let Him be preeminent in your plans for the coming New Year. Make sure He is foremost in the goals you set, the places you go, and the decisions that need to be made.
Have a successful God Morning!