“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.”
Martin Luther
The Highest Good
“God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any, or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean.”
Jonathan Edwards
Beautiful Paradox
“What I am anxious to see in Christian believers is a beautiful paradox. I want to see in them the joy of finding God while at the same time they are blessedly pursuing Him. I want to see in them the great joy of having God yet always wanting Him.”
A.W. Tozer
Jesus the Coming King
Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30 ESV)
Jesus told his disciples that he was going away, but he made them a promise to come again. He said, In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:2-3 ESV) At Jesus’ ascension two men in white apparel made this announcement, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? 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 ESV) Many New Testament epistles affirm the return of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:7; 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; James 5:7-8; 2 Peter 3:12; 1 John 2:28). Continue reading
Jesus the First and Last
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13 ESV)
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet in which the New Testament is written. In referring to himself as the first and last, Jesus revealed his true identity as God. Early in the Revelation, John quotes God as saying, 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) And in Revelation 22:12-13 Jesus reveals to John, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Notice that before revealing himself as the Alpha and Omega Jesus said, “Behold I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:12). During his earthly ministry Jesus repeatedly spoke to his disciples of his future return (John 14:3, 28). This gives further proof that the Alpha and Omega is indeed Jesus.
Jesus made it plain that the one who is the first and last is also the one who died and came to life. John records, When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18) And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.” (Revelation 2:8) The scriptures are amply supplied with references to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Not only did Jesus claim to be the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, so did God. John wrote, And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 21:5-6)
God also spoke to the prophet Isaiah saying, Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he. (Isaiah 41:4) You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. (Isaiah 43:10) Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. (Isaiah 44:6)
Jesus is the first and last and everything in between. He fills all things (Ephesians 1:23). Paul wrote of Jesus, And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell . . . (Colossians 1:17-19)
He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the one who created all things, who lived, who died and who rose from the dead and is coming again.
Are you ready for the return of Christ?
Scriptures for meditation:
Matthew 28:5-6
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
The Christian Ideal
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”
G.K. Chesterton
Full Custody
“God went so far as to rip the “veil” of His Son’s flesh on Mount Calvary. At the same time unseen hands ripped the veil on Mount Zion, as if to say, “I don’t ever want this thing rewoven again. I am tired of being separated from my children.” God doesn’t just want visiting hours with his children. He wants full custody!”
Tommy Tenney
Worship and Theology
“The closer you get to the truth, the clearer becomes the beauty, and the more you will find worship welling up within you. That’s why theology and worship belong together. The one isn’t just a head-trip; the other isn’t just emotion.”
N.T. Wright