The Eternal God
The gang is “almost” all here. Stephanie and McKenzie arrived from Atlanta, but Nathan, Mason and Carter had to stay behind. I think it was something about school. O, the responsibilities of growing older. This morning Christian, Bridget, Riley, Caedmon and Eliana braved the cold and roads to make it here.
This has been a “snow kind of day.” Snow has been gently falling in Fort Collins. The kids have been outside and playing in the basement. The sounds of laughter, crying, talking (all at the same time), O, the joys of family together! This morning Stephanie got a decal on the wall that we have had for some time. The words are my personal life motto after my illness. “Faith, Family and Friends.” Stephanie and McKenzie and Riley are in the picture. I had Riley look at the picture, and he spoke the words, “faith, family and friends” and then said, “I can’t read cursive.”
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
The Book of Revelation is rightly named “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” In vivid imagery John sees and describes the appearance of Jesus Christ as the judge of all the earth and the only one who is worthy to open the seals on the scroll of God’s judgment. As these seals are broken a series of judgments on the earth, the world system, its inhabitants, the Anti-Christ and Satan himself unfold. The culmination is the return of Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the revealing of a new heavens and new earth.
This all begins with a repeated statement in Revelation chapter 1 that Christ is the eternal God. We see some well known words such as, “Alpha and Omega…the First and the Last.” However, the repeated phrase is “who is and who was and who is to come.”
I like the sequence in this phrase. It begins with, “the One who is” When Jesus left His disciples, He promised the presence of the Holy Spirit to be “with them forever, the Spirit of Truth.” (John 14) During my lengthy time of hospitalization and even the setbacks in this past year, my families faith we bolstered by the words of the song that simply reminds us, “God is with us, God is with us, always…” The declaration of the Psalmist that the Lord is “an ever-present help in time of trouble” (Psa. 46:1) is a reality that we can experience in our lives.
He is the God “who was.” He has no beginning, He has no end. John simply declares, “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1) His work in creation is clearly seen when scripture declares, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3) “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:” (Colossians 1:16)
Then He is the One “who is to come.” The promise of the Lord’s return is foretold in the Old Testament. Jesus comforted His disciples with the words, “…if I go away, I will come and receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also.” (John 14:2) During Jesus ministry He spoke of the destruction of the Temple and the disciples ask, “what shall be the signs of your coming and the end of the world.” (Matthew 24:3) At His ascension into heaven an angel appeared and spoke these words, “…This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) Paul speaks of Christ’s return, Peter does as well as John. The return of Christ is “the blessed hope” of the Church. (2 Peter 3:13)
Faith in Christ is not in a philosophy or human leader or great teacher or example. It is faith in the eternal God. The One who is, and was and is to come and the One who is still working in individual lives and in the affairs of this world. This reality allows us to affirm and join with the Apostle Paul in worship…“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17