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 20 of 20

CONCLUSION

We have spoken of an aspect of Jesus that is too often taken for granted. Men find it easy to adopt a lifeless creed that acknowledges that Jesus is "the Beginning and the End." It is quite another thing, however, for life to be lived in the full awareness of that circumstance.

Nothing of lasting value exists that did not have its genesis with Jesus! Nothing is worthy of emphasis that does not find its maturity in our Lord Jesus Christ. If Jesus is not the Corner Stone of our lives, we will face certain exclusion from the face of the Lord and the glory of His power (2 Thess 1:9). Those who consciously live, and move, and have their being in Christ will experience an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1:11).

Parallel terms

There are several Scriptural terms applied to Christ that parallel "the Beginning and the End." Allow me to refresh your mind on them. "Alpha and Omega" (Rev 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13). "First and Last" (Rev 1:11,17; 2:8; 22:13). "The Author and Finisher of our faith" (Heb 12:2).

Summary

In summary, God begins nothing without Christ. What is more, everything He concludes, or brings to maturity, is through Christ. The Father honors nothing, absolutely nothing, that does not find its totality in the Son. You can place your faith in Christ without any reservation whatsoever. God will finish what has been started in the Son. Of some men it is said, "This man began to build, and was not able to finish" (Luke 14:30). Such will never be said of the Father or the Son! With holy men of old, you can be "confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6).

Because Jesus is "the Beginning and the End," God "will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth" (Rom 9:28).

It is good for the people of God to pray for one another, that a lively sense of the keeping power of God may be realized in them. The great benedictions of Scripture remind us of the effectiveness of considering one another. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Heb 13:20-21).

That powerful phrase, "through Jesus Christ," encompasses the truth with which we have dealt. It is His role of "the Beginning and the End" that makes the work effectual.

The objective of the faith-life is to be involved in "the work" of God. When we are born again, we begin as His "workmanship" (Eph 2:10). If we keep the faith and abide in Christ, the work will be brought to an honorable conclusion. By saying a "short work," the Spirit appeals to our faith. With all of its vicissitudes and difficulties, our tenure in this world will seem but a moment when we are gathered to the Lord. Our experience will be like that of Jacob, who served seven years for Rachel. At the conclusion of that servitude, it is said of those seven years, "they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her" (Gen 29:20).

Faith appropriates the benefit by embracing the promises. Because Jesus is "the Beginning and the End," we are "confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6). Now, go on your way rejoicing! Jesus IS "the Beginning and the End."

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You for initiating and culminating Your great salvation within me through the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe on Him, and He is precious to me.

-- Tomorrow, New Series: CITIZENS OF HEAVEN --