The Alpha and the Omega

His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand, he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword.  His face was like the sun shining in all its brillance....."I am the Alpha and the Omega.  I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever! (Rev. 1:15-18).

It would take a Picasso to paint the image in John's vision -- I wish I could do it.  John's vision was of the Living Christ, the One who died and who rose from the dead and Who now lives forever in glory, the One Who holds in His hand the 'seven stars' -- that is, the churches of Asia to whom John is writing.  He says He is the "First and the Last," echoing the words of Isaiah 44:6:  This is what the Lord says--Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:  I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

The Epistle to the Hebrews describes Jesus as "the author and perfecter of our faith," (12:2) who "is now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone" (Heb. 2:9).  Because of His obedience, He is the "author of our salvation," as well as its finisher; He delivers into the freedom of the sons of God all those who have lived under the fear of death.

This is a great mystery, hard to think about and grasp -- but also very freeing to those who have lived in fear all their lives:  fear of God's punishment; fear of doing the wrong thing; fear of not being good enough; fear of not being loved or loveable.  Jesus is the Author -- or Beginning---of our faith; He is also the Omega -- or end-- of our faith.  He starts and He finishes the work of God in us.  What do we have to fear if He is the One doing the work in us?  We have only to surrender to the work He does and trust that He knows how to bring it to fulfillment.  If we but give Him permission to do all in us that He wishes, He will lead us to the perfection of God's vision for our lives. 

If He is the author and finisher of the work of God in us, and if we surrender to Him, "it is finished."