The A-Z of Salvation | Z stands for 'Alpha and Omega'

 

The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet

Well, we've arrived at the last letter in our A-Z of salvation, the letter Z. We could have chosen Z for Zion. Zion is a place name of Jerusalem, but also a name that represents all of God's people. One day all of 'Zion' will be gathered together in heaven, every Old Testament saint and New Testament saint, all saved in the same way and by the same Saviour.

But instead of Zion I have chosen Z to represent the last letter of the Greek alphabet, Omega, and tagged it with the first letter of the Greek alphabet which is Alpha.

And together to share the verse in Revelation 22:13

^"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, 

the Beginning and the End."

Jesus Christ is bringing encouragement to his people in hard places: that's the main purpose of the book of Revelation. Jesus calls himself the Alpha and Omega for two reasons.

 Jesus is God

First to remind his suffering people that he is God. For in Isaiah 44:6 God says of himself, “I am the first and the last”, and Psalm 90:2 reads, “from everlasting to everlasting you are God”.

Just before calling himself the alpha and omega Jesus said, "Behold I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." In other words, Jesus has just claimed to be the one who will bring both reward and punishment with him when he comes. Who can reward the righteous or judge the wicked except God himself?

I know it is an article of faith - Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, but how often do we take that knowledge to heart? The disciples believed it in their heads but panicked in a storm and fretted over the command to feed a crowd.

To know that Jesus Christ really is divine is not to fear trouble and not to fret over our needs. To believe that Jesus Christ is God is to turn to him in the moment of trial or temptation or need and immediately seek his help.

Jesus is always there

The other meaning behind this grand title of the Lord Jesus, "The Alpha and the Omega" is that there is Someone who is constant across all the changing scenes of life, and of time and of eternity.

Jesus Christ, the Word, was there at the beginning of time, Creator of the rolling spheres, and he will be there at the end of time as Judge and rewarder. 

Our lives are in constant flux. People come and people go. Places come and paces go. Cities change. Countries change. Governments change. Families change. People themselves change. A divorced Jewish woman once justified her divorce with the statement that people change, and the person you married may be very different in a decade's time. Churches change. But there is Someone who rises above all the changes in life and is the same yesterday, today and forever. Praise his name!

Summing it all Up

Christian friend do not get too settled in this world. For all you know your world may have turned upside down by the end of this year. And if you trusted in and relied upon transient things you are bound to be disappointed. 

But if your trust is wholly in Jesus Christ, the divine Alpha and Omega, who changes not and whose love never fails, well, he will never let you down and we shall never be disappointed.

OUR SONG FOR THE DAY

If my wife and I had a favourite joint hymn it would be this one, by William Gadsby. It exults in the divine ability of Jesus Christ to meet all the needs of our souls. 

Immortal honors rest on Jesus’ head;
My God, my portion, and my living bread;
In Him I live, upon Him cast my care;
He saves from death, destruction, and despair.

He is my refuge in each deep distress;
The Lord my strength and glorious righteousness;
Through floods and flames He leads me safely on,
And daily makes His sovereign goodness known.

My every need He richly will supply;
Nor will His mercy ever let me die;
In Him there dwells a treasure all divine,
And matchless grace has made that treasure mine.

O that my soul could love and praise Him more,
His beauties trace, His majesty adore;
Live near His heart, upon His bosom lean;
Obey His voice, and all His will esteem.

You can sing along HERE.

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our Father in heaven,

We thank you that in a world of rapid change, we have an anchor for the soul. We thank you that God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit never change. 

Forgive us when we forget that Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, is invested with all divine power and is able to supply our needs, protect us and comfort us. 

Teach us to turn from all our idols and to him every day.

We ask these things in Jesus' name

Amen