Names of God - Part Five

ALPHA AND OMEGA: THE FIRST AND THE LAST

Isaiah 44:6 — “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”

Revelation 22:13 — “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Devotional — The prophet Isaiah wrote that God was there in the beginning—“with the first”—and He will be here “with the last” (Isa 41:4). In other words, God serves as the bookends for history. The Bible emphatically states that nothing happens outside the purview of God’s sovereignty and power. Nothing happens without His permission or without His authorization. Nothing can interfere with His eternal plan to restore all things to perfection.  In the Greek language, Alpha is the first letter of the alphabet and Omega is the last letter. In Revelation, at the conclusion of history, Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega…who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” He is essentially saying, “I am the whole story. I am the God of creation, the God seen throughout the Bible, the God who will bring all things to perfect completion, the God who will reign for all eternity.” What we can trust and take comfort in is, the One who controls the outcome of this world is the same One who holds you in His hands. He has a plan for your life, and He will be faithful to bring it to completion (Philip 1:6).

Prayer — Give thanks that our God is the beginning and end of all things. He created all things, controls all things, and makes all things perfect, as was in the beginning, so it will be in the end. Give thanks and honor and glory that we serve and belong to a mighty, mighty God.