From the beginning to the end, we can know our Lord is with us
By Dean Collins
As we enter this new year, remembering this truth from Jesus might be helpful.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
When the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation received this book, they greatly needed encouragement. The persecution of Christians had intensified, and there were many false teachers whose false doctrines were pulling some away from the truth of the gospel. One strong message of Revelation is a call for believers to endure, to keep the commandments of God, and to hold on to their faith in Jesus.
While Revelation encouraged early Christians to endure, this rich text also encourages us to endure and to wait for the promised return of Jesus. At the very end of the book of Revelation we read this:
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.“
The Old Testament Scriptures open “In the beginning . . . ,” and in the last verses of the New Testament Scriptures Jesus announces that he is the beginning and the end and that he is coming soon. Just a week ago we celebrated the birth of Christ. His birth was a fulfillment of so many Old Testament prophecies. Now we confidently await the second coming of Jesus.
Reading the promise of Jesus that he will come soon can bring us great confidence that he will neither forget nor ignore us in this new year. And like the saints of old we can and must keep our faith in Jesus and find strength in the promises of Scripture to endure until the end of our lives or until Jesus returns.
The new year will likely be filled with many wonderful moments. There will be unexpected blessings. And there will likely be difficulties we also didn’t plan to experience. But knowing that God was at the beginning and will be at the end of our lives, we can be confident he will not abandon us here in the middle.
Jesus promised rest to those who come to him in this life. Filled with his Spirit we can lean on his promises this year and every year until we meet him face-to-face and rest from all our labors. In the meantime, we pray that God would use us and our labors here to introduce his grace and love to a world that so desperately needs him.
Your time with God’s Word
Revelation 14:12-13 ESV; Revelation 14:12-13 MSG; Revelation 22:12-13, 20-21 ESV
Marcio Binow Da Silva photo by istockphoto.com
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