JESUS CHRIST, the BEGINNING and the END

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely" (Rev 21:6). "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Rev 22:13).

Devotion 12 of 20

THE PURPOSE FOR CHRIST'S PREEMINENCE

Christ's preeminence is not merely to guarantee the subjugation of His foes, although that is involved. He reigns to ensure the salvation of all who believe in Him. His is a reign of grace, not of law. Mark it well, Jesus was "over all" prior to humbling Himself to die in our behalf. He did not need to come to earth, die, and be raised to gain such preeminence. He now rules to give repentance and remission of sin (Acts 5:31), and to intercede for those who have received Him (Heb 7:25). He truly is "the Beginning."

All who yield to Him will be sustained by Him, though "broken." Everyone who fails to submit to Him will be destroyed by Him. As it is written, "And He beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that Stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever It shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Luke 20:18).

Falling upon the Stone is willingly submitting to Jesus in this world. Those so responding to Christ have seen Him as "the Beginning." Let no person fail to recognize Jesus Christ, in this world, as the Beginning, or preeminent One. Those who believe on Him are falling upon Him, throwing themselves upon His mercy. They are entrusting Him with their lives, which they have given up for Him. The awareness of His preeminence constrained them to forsake all for Him. For all such individuals, Jesus is "the Beginning" of blessing here, and eternal life in the world to come (Mark 10:30).

PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ, I thank and praise You for the grace, truth, and power that enabled me to fall upon the Stone.

--Tomorrow: PREEMINENT IN DOCTRINE --