Three Great Declarations
Today ended up being the opposite of yesterday as far as activity. I attend my Tuesday morning prayer time at Everyday Joe’s and then return home to take care of some work. I then attended a Rotary meeting in Loveland followed by a meeting with former State Rep. Jim Welker. I then headed back to Everyday Joe’s for a “town hall” meeting with one of our City Councilors and the off to my Chiropractor appointment. I’m glad for no evening appointments.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The One on the throne said to me, “It is finished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give free water from the spring of the water of life to anyone who is thirsty.” Revelation 21:6 NCV
I like the parallels that we see in various concepts in scripture. Each of the phrases in the verse above have a connection to other Bible passages and are significant in God’s plan of redemption.
“Is it finished.” These three words are usually associated with Jesus’ final words uttered on the cross. They signaled the end of His life on earth and the culmination of the sacrifice that was need to make the forgiveness of sin available through God’s grace and faith in Christ. At the cross the demands of the Old Covenant were completed. God’s promise of salvation as finished.
With each “it is finished” is a beginning of that which is new. The cross was the transition point, the entry point from the old to the new. Now at the end of the age we see another declaration by God the Father that “it is finished.” What is finished? We see the judgment on the world is completed and God’s redemption of the world is complete. The old world is gone and the new heavens and new earth are coming down from God.
“I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.” These words describe the self identification of the resurrected Christ that was in John’s vision at the beginning of the Book of Revelation. It was a declaration of the God who always was and is and will always be. The beginning of the world took place at His command and the end of the human age takes place at His command. This declaration is found again at the end of the Book of Revelation. The beginning of the book and the end of the book find these powerful and important words to remind us of who God is, what He does.
“I will give free water from the spring of the water of life to anyone who is thirsty.” In a land of dry, arid conditions, nothing speaks of life like a “spring of water.” We see springs of water flowing from the rock in the wilderness.
Before those days, we see the wells dug by Abraham and the spring that provided refreshment to Hagar and Ishmael. In Isaiah we see the invitation, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1 NIV)
We see Jesus words to the woman at the well in Samaria, “…whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 14:4 NIV) Now, at the culmination of all God’ work of redemption for all people and the world, is the promise of “water from the spring of the water of life…”
We then see the picture of the “river of life” flowing from God’s throne, even as Ezekiel saw water flowing from the Temple, the place of God’s presence. (Ezekiel 47)
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life. It was shining like crystal and was flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the street of the city. The tree of life was on each side of the river. It produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of all the nations.” (Revelation 22:1,2 NCV)
The perfect “garden” of God’s creation is once again described. This time it is not just for Adam and Eve to enjoy, but for all “the offspring from Adam”- those of all nations and times who have committed their life to Jesus Christ. What a glorious picture, what a glorious future, what a wonderful savior!