Good morning. The Alpha and Omega. The first and the last. The beginning and the end. I would like to take a moment and reflect upon the power of those words, ideas, and truths.
As John relays the words of Jesus in Revelation 1:8 we read: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
We read the words, but do we consider their implication? Jesus, our Savior, Immanuel, God with us, these are words and ideas that we can fathom. But are we prepared to include the truth that this same Jesus is the Alpha, the beginning of all that is? That He was fully present in power before there was time and is the creator of all that is created? God speaks this truth in Isaiah 48:12-13
“Listen to me, O Jacob,
and Israel, whom I called!
I am he; I am the first,
and I am the last.
My hand laid the foundation of the earth,
and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I call to them,
they stand forth together.
Jesus, the same Jesus who desires a personal and intimate relationship with each of us, is one with the Father and the Spirit, and one in the power and function of creation.
Before there was time, there was Jesus. Before there was the farthest point of the universe, there was Jesus. Before there was physical substance, there was Jesus. Jesus was there in the fullness of power, and of love, and of creative energy.
The Hebrew concept of God at the beginning is that He is Aleph, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, just as alpha begins the Greek. The Hebrew recognition of God as aleph, the starting point, is that whatever else there was, if indeed there was anything at all, doesn’t matter. All conversation on the matter, and certainly any argument, is not only irrelevant, but is also irreverent. Our story, our history, begins with that single starting point, an aleph, and Aleph is an identity of God. It is part of His nature, part of His truth, part of His mystery. Everything begins in Him…everything.
The concept of Omega is just as intriguing. Jesus is the end. And in that ending, there is a new beginning. Does that sound strange? Consider then the words of God in Revelation 21:1-7 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
Even when He is the end, He is the beginning. All that was stained and broken by sin will cease to exist, it will absolutely end. But as it all ends, the reality of perfection in God becomes clear. Our place with Him becomes our reality.
One of those things that end with the former creation is time itself. When all that is, is of the spiritual realm, time is irrelevant, God has put an end to it.
Jesus, out Alpha and our Omega. In faith, He is our beginning and end. He is the author and perfector – Hebrews 12:2.
Praise God for glorious beginnings! Praise God for glorious endings! Praise God for glorious endings that usher in new and glorious beginnings! We give you praise Jesus!
Vern