(Rev 22:13 NIV) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
This magnificent title of our Lord comes to us in His final words to man as recorded in the last chapter of the Bible.
Alpha and Omega are words for the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Their meaning can be seen from the verse above when Jesus also emphasized that He is the beginning and the end.
John 8:57-59 NIV) “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” {58} “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” {59} At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Jesus asserted His existence right from the beginning by the use of the present tense “I am”. If He had only wanted to say He had existed before Abraham, He would have used “I was”.
Call upon Jesus for help
As our Alpha and Omega, He is also the Lord of our beginnings and endings. He is there at the crossroads of our lives – birth, growing up, when we go to college, when we get our first job, when we get married…
(Mat 28:18-20 NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. {19} Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus promised to be with us, to the very end of this age. And this Person who promised to be with us, has been endowed with all authority in heaven and on earth (verse 18). There is no need to fear any circumstance.
Call upon Jesus for guidance
(Rev 22:13 NIV) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Because Jesus is the beginning and the end, He knows our beginning and our end.
(Jer 29:11 NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jesus knows even our future and He has a wonderful plan for our lives. Are there times when you feel you need direction in life? Ask Jesus because He has a plan for you from the beginning to end.
Jesus will be the final victor
(Rev 1:7-8 NIV) Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. {8} “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
(Rev 21:3-6 NIV) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. {4} He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” {5} He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” {6} He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
(Rev 22:12-13 NIV) “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. {13} I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
The title “Alpha and Omega” is used by Jesus three times in the book of Revelation and it is always used in the context that God is coming and He will make everything right.
We have to keep in mind that God will be the final victor. I like the printing I saw on one T-shirt “When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.”
(Rev 20:10 NIV) And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The end for the devil and his evil doers will be the lake of fire. God will be the final victor. Therefore, when you see the increase in lawlessness and suffering, do not lose heart. When you try to lead the Christian life and see others gain, who are going against the Bible, do not lose heart. Trust that God will come one day to exert His final victory.