1992: Alpha And Omega

As we cross the threshold from 1991 to 1992, let us consider that Christ speaks of Himself in Revelation 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.”

Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet; Omega is the last. Christ is saying, “I am the A and Z, the first and the last, and all that lies between. I am the ‘all and in all’ (Col. 3:11 b) — also in 1992.”

How solemn the thought! God is the first and the last, the last and the first. God is inescapable — also in 1992.

We are never permitted to utter the first word nor the last. This is God’s prerogative and one which He will never surrender — also not in 1992.

You and I had no say about our beginning, our birth; we have no control over our ending, our death. We had no voice at the first and will have none at the last. We are in the hands of God regardless of our wishes or denials of Him — also in 1992.

Adam became a living soul by the will of God. God was Adam’s Alpha; He was there first. Adam sinned away his life (Gen. 3:6), plunged all his posterity into a state of death, and passed on the pollution of sin (Gen. 5:3).

For Christ’s sake, God was Adam’s Alpha a second time. He was there first in Adam’s rebirth. He initiated it (Gen. 3:9); He promised it (Gen. 3:15); He revealed it (Gen. 3:21); He performed it (1 Tim. 1:15). Hence Adam could call his wife’s name, Eve: life! (Gen. 3:20).

You and I are sons and daughters of Adam. By nature we bear his image. Like Adam, we need God to be our Alpha a second time. We need to be born again. Rebirth is impossible from our side. It can only transpire out of sovereign and eternally decreed grace through Bethlehem’s manger, Golgotha’s cross, and Joseph’s empty sepulcher — also in 1992.

It would be great grace and great wisdom for us to begin to live in the consciousness of this wonderful and terrible truth: God is the first and the last. This truth is terrible apart from Bethlehem’s Wonder-Child. It is terrible for those for whom God has not been Alpha the second time in the second birth. By nature there is no room in our hearts for the born Savior (Lk. 2:7). Terrible shall it be, if God prevent not, when the exalted Savior shall declare on the last day, “Now I have no room for you.”

We are never permitted to utter the first word nor the last.

On the other hand, God as first and last is a wonderful truth, yes, everything, for the regenerate. For them, all hope, peace, life, purpose, and meaning reside in God being the first and last in Jesus Christ. For God’s people, past, present, and future are all vanity apart from God in Christ being first and last.

Our wish for young and old in 1992 is that Jesus Christ, who is always first and last, may consciously become our Alpha and Omega to the great gladness of our poor and needy souls. May God grant us no rest until we can say, “Christ is also my ‘all and in all’ (Col. 3:11b) out of free and sovereign grace.”

May God bless all the means of grace to be administered among us in 1992, D.V.: preaching and reading services; catechism instruction; family and pastoral visitation (Is. 55:11). May He place His stamp of favor upon our Confession of Faith classes, Bible study classes, youth groups, women’s groups, and choral societies. May He grant strength to His servants and enlarge their number. May He grant wisdom to our consistories, teachers, students, school boards and school committees. May church committee work prosper. May willing hearts and hands continue to be granted to all those who assist in various volunteer capacities in our church and schools. May He bless our missionary minister, Rev. P. L. Bazen, together with his wife, family, and mission team, in Loma Alta. May sinners be saved, God’s people advanced in grace, and the triune God be glorified.

May God also strengthen those mourning the loss of loved ones. May He assist the handicapped and those who care for them. May all our crosses be sanctified to eternal gain. May God remember you and your loved ones in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus who is the first and last for death- and hell-worthy sinners such as we are. In 1992, may we by grace continually reckon with the brevity of life, the certainty of death, the solemnity of judgment, and the neverendingness of eternity.

A Minister’s Prayer

I do not ask
That crowds may throng the temple,
That standing room be at a price;
I only ask that as I voice the message,
They may see Christ.

I do not ask
For churchly pomp or pageant,
Or music such as wealth alone can buy;
I only ask that as I voice the message,
He may be nigh.

I do not ask
That men may sound my praises,
Or headlines spread my name abroad:
I only pray that as I voice the message,
Hearts may find God.

I do not ask
For earthly place or laurel,
Or of this world’s distinction any part;
I only ask when I have voiced the message,
My Saviour’s heart

Dr. J.R. Beeke is pastor of the First Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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