I Am The Alpha And Omega Series

I am the Alpha and the Omega

Revelation 1, 21-22

June 14, 2020

We all want to be first. Watch kids get in line and they fight to get ahead of others. Even adults do that. It’s pretty silly, but have you ever been in line for a ride and you see someone cutting in line? It’s pretty irritating.

The reason we fight to be first, is because we don’t want to be last. Last has a really bad connotation. Now, some of you might not know this about me . . . but let me confess for a something . . . I am really, really competitive. I am not sure which I love more, winning or not losing. I hate losing. I know I’m not supposed to say hate, but that’s how much I dislike losing. When my team is about to lose, I change the channel, I don’t want to see the other team win. When I play sports, I’m really competitive. Some of you have experienced that . . . sorry!

You should have been around the house for some of our wrestling matches, especially with Zachary. It was all out war! I hate losing, but it’s my kid, so that’s OK. I never win, but it always ends with a smile and some achey muscles.

Joshua and I no longer play matches in tennis. It would not be pretty. Now I just celebrate the few points I get and throw it in his face!

To be honest, I really don’t feel better, because I’ll still be competitive.

Well, last week I said we were done with the I AM statements of Jesus, and we kind of are, but I’m adding one last one which is not from the gospel of John. It’s a statement Jesus made 3 times in the book of Revelation.

In Revelation 1, 21, 22 - - - He said the same thing, all with the same meaning, but in different contexts. They are important words for us to hear - -

In Revelation 1 - we read . . . 8 “I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

In Revelation 21, John tells us - 5 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.”

6 And He said to me, “It is done! I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be His God and you will be my child.

Then in Revelation 22, Jesus said - 12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

Now, we’re not going to be doing a study on the book of Revelation. But I want us to see what Jesus means that He is the Alpha and Omega. He’s the first and the last, the beginning and the end. What does all that mean for us? It’s really important and it’s really comforting as well. What does that mean for us and how can that change our lives?

Very simply, ALPHA was the first letter of the Greek alphabet and OMEGA was the last letter of the alphabet. So Jesus is telling us He is the first and He is the last. That has eternal significance for us. Jesus was literally the BEGINNING” of all things… and Jesus will literally be the END of all things.

He is the A and He is the Z. He encompasses everything. He was before time and He will be after time. There is no beginning and no end to Jesus.

We can see that in so many passages in the Bible, that when Jesus makes these statements, it makes total sense. We don’t have to worry about being first or last, because Jesus is in all things, first and last, beginnings and endings. And that’s great news for us.

In Colossians 1, Paul tells us -

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

16 For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.