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.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 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.
What Paul does is really cool! He says Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. Now that does NOT mean Jesus was created. Paul simply wants us to know Jesus was there at the beginning of creation. It’s what Paul said in Ephesians 1:4 -
4 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.
Jesus was before all things and He holds all things together. Now, this is what is cool in the way Paul wrote this. Jesus was there before all things, the firstborn of all creation. Then Paul says in verse 18, that Jesus is the head of the church and He’s also the firstborn of the dead. So, He was there before all creation and He’s there for the dead. That death, which should be the end of the game, isn’t the end . . . that life through Christ continues in eternity with God. That’s great news!
Because Jesus has been here without end, without a break, never taking a day off, never sleeping on the job, He is in control. He knows what you’re going through and He has it covered. Even when you’re struggling.
Often times we lament endings. But every ending has a new beginning and that is where Christ can be for you. He is with you in the ending AND He is with you in a new beginning.
Whether it’s a relational ending
Whether it’s a health related issue.
It may be work related
It could be a school issue
Maybe it’s just a life decision you need to make which has an ending.
But every ending has a new beginning and that includes Jesus. He is always there! That’s because He is the beginning and the end. He’s there at the first and at the last. Because Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and the Beginning and the End, I don’t have to be afraid… because Jesus has it all under control.
For most of the rest of our time, I want to focus on what Jesus said in Revelation 21.
I love what Jesus said in second half of verse 6 - listen to these words again —
6 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.
When God says He will give from the springs of the water of life to the thirsty - - God means exactly that. He will give it to those who desire it — for those who long for it.
I really believe there is a battle going on in us. The struggle is between thirsting after God and thirsting after everything else. And it’s not an easy battle. Because it never ends. We have to face it on a daily basis. I have to thirst for God every day. That has to be stronger than my thirst for everything else. Because there are lots of things I thirst for. If we were to be really honest, there are things which maybe aren’t so Godly that we long for . . . that we thirst after. That maybe we’re willing to give up part of our identity to get what we want, because it may make us feel good for a moment, but leave us empty in the end.
That’s why when we are filled with God’s Spirit, we never run on empty. We don’t run on gas fumes, but we have to be willing to put aside those other things that are pulling at us. God promises to meet us and to satisfy our thirst.
Our thirst for Christ must conquer thirst for the world and all it offers. Listen to what Isaiah said about this in Isaiah 55 --
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Thirst is a metaphor for life, for what we desire in our heart and spirit. That’s what Jesus was getting at and what Isaiah is saying.
We know what it’s like to be really thirsty, when a glass of anything cold is great. When we’ve been out in the sun and we’re feeling dehydrated, it feels like we can’t get enough water.
Well, that’s the sense here as well. But we have those moments in life when our marriage is leaving is feeling parched. It’s in our homes, our work, even with God, when things just seem kind of bland, it’s the same old thing and we’re thirsting for more.
So, God says come to the waters, and if you don’t have any money, don’t let that stop you. I like that! So, God says come, buy and eat! But wait!! I have no money, so how can I buy and eat? How can I buy wine and milk?
You see God wants us to understand that He has not only paid for it, but He has wiped away the price. We often think we have to earn our way with God. He have to do all the little things to keep God on our side. And while that’s true in a sense. . .
God wants us to know I BOUGHT you!! And you’re mine and now everything I have is yours. I will give it to you without payment. It’s free to you! The prices on every item are gone. Wiped away, cleansed for you.
It’s a clear indicator that Jesus paid the price for us. It’s not our doing. But we have to thirst. It’s what Jesus was saying in Revelation. We must thirst . . . we must come to Jesus, we must open ourselves to what God is offering us . . . which is Himself. It’s the power of Christ coming into our lives.
So, verse 2 finds God asking us
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. - Isaiah 55:1-2
Jesus is telling us I AM the Bread, I am the water, I am the Wine, I am the Milk . . . I am what you need. I am all you need. I made you right with God. I will give you everything you need. I can supply it . . . and it will cost you nothing! There is no price!
Jesus took away the price Himself, by His death. He gave us the gift of forgiveness, the hope that we can have in Him, that when life is not going as we hoped for, we can still have hope in Him, and His hope, will strengthen us and empower us and we will have a reason to live another day and find strength through Christ.
We can live our lives with Jesus and we could get along pretty well. But there would always be something missing in our heart and spirit. When that crunch time came, when become really thirsty, we will have no reserves, nothing to fill us. Jesus came so that we could experience the power of a resurrected life, a transformed life.
“Alpha and Omega” means that whatever Jesus starts, He finishes. Again, Paul reminds - 6 And I am sure of this, that he who BEGAN a good work in you will bring it to COMPLETION at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6
(From Jeff Strite) As we conclude, let me give you quick quiz: What is the most valued and highest insured painting in the world? The Mona Lisa is insured for about $900 million. Da Vinci was commissioned by a patron to celebrate a birthday. If Leonardo had simply been interested in the money, he could have painted the portrait and received his payment. But money was never the object with him. It took Da Vinci 4 years to paint this masterpiece … and the painting has up to 30 different layers of paint! King Francis 1 wanted the Mona Lisa, but Da Vinci told him it was not finished. www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0716/Mona-Lisa-examination-reveals-layers-of-paint-for-dreamy-quality
Why would Da Vinci do that? Why would he keep adding more and more paint to his artwork? He did that because he kept working and reworking the image until he was pleased with it. And he loved this painting so much that he never gave it to his patron. He kept it for himself.
And that’s what Jesus does with us. He is constantly working us and reworking us. Jesus will never quite be done with us, because to Jesus you and I the most valuable pieces of art in existence, and He wants us to be the best that He can create! And ultimately, He keeps us for Himself because He loves us so much.
So, when Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. He is the beginning and the end. He is the Creator and He is the redeemer. That Omega part is nice, isn’t it. He’s the end! Yet, He conquered the end, through the resurrection!
I think this morning, I’ve been all over the place. But I want to encourage you to thirst for Jesus. To know He was there in the beginning and He will be with you in the end. He will never leave you, never abandon you. Instead, He is your Creator and Redeemer.
