Jesus: The Alpha and The Omega

When God spoke in Isaiah 44:6 He said He is the first and the last.  In Revelation 22:13 Jesus says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."  Alpha is the beginning of the Greek alphabet and omega is the last letter.   My question is 'What is Jesus the beginning and end of?

He was at the beginning of this universe and nothing was created without him.  He will also be around until the end of this universe.  Jesus is eternal.  But it means more than just that.  He is the beginning and the end of history as well.

Jesus came into this world from Heaven and divided time.  All the years of history are referenced to the birth of Jesus.  His birth became the beginning, the alpha of a new age and the end, the omega of the old age.  History is centered around Jesus Christ.

Not only is history centered around Jesus but the life of a Christian is also centered around the day Christ came into their life.  It was on that day that the old life of following the sinful desires of this world ended and the person was born anew to a life of abundant love, joy peace and other blessings of God.  A new day, the beginning of an eternal life lived with Jesus Christ.

The world might not acknowledge Jesus as God and Savior, but their lives are still centered around the day God came into this world almost 2000 years ago.  Christians need to live their lives centered around the day Jesus came into their personal lives.

Every morning make Jesus the Alpha of the Day and every evening the Omega of your day.  The first, the last and every moment in between should be given to Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior.

Photo Credit: Alpha Omega by Thomas Hawk

Virtual Reality Earth

If you have ever played a computer game you know that you are given a goal which to win you must accomplish. You might need to gather rings, gold coins, or rescue a damsel in distress.  If you die in the attempt the game might give you two or three lives to use in the attempt.  When you are done playing, even if you have broken every record possible, you shut off the game and have nothing in real life to show for it.

Virtual Reality games will immerse you in the world of the game.  You can look all around you and it seems like the world is behind you, beside you and in front of you. You might even feel some things in the game when you touch them.  It is much more realistic than just having a screen in front of you.

The most realistic world to live in is the one you have been in all your life.  This game is not just a game but your life on earth and you only get one chance.  No new lives when this one is done so you have to do your best here and now.

This 'game' (that is not a game) had a designer who set up the rules and the goals.  You might have one day to play or 100 years and you have no idea how long.  Once you have finished everything in this world that you have won is worthless in the real life of the Eternal.  You have riches here, houses, cars, great fame or a great job?  Worthless!

The only things from this world worth anything are those done for God.  He keeps track of our lives and will reward us for all we do to honor and obey Him.  Golden rings, money, fame, fortune as a goal is worthless.  Gathering souls will win you an eternal reward.  Giving God credit for your good works is also rewarded.  Obeying God instead of following our own desires is always rewarded.  The rulebook is your Bible and the goals are not those of this world.

This world seems real but the true reality is found in Eternity.  This Virtual Reality Earth is temporary but what is done for God will last forever.

"while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Baal Worship in America

I was surprised to find out just how prevalent Baal worship is here in the United States and even around the world.  I also found out that there is not just one Baal but many manifestations of Baal.  A Baal of one type or another can be found everywhere.

There is a Baal of sex, a Baal of money, a Baal of beauty, a Baal of food and many many more.  If there is a sin to be committed, there is a Baal for it.  It is really quite amazing to learn about the Baalim (plural for Baal) and how diversified they are.  It is also scary to think that when we sin in our lives today, we are actually worshipping a Baal.

I once worshipped the Baal of pornography.  It took God a while but He has taken that Baal off of the throne of my life and now Jesus Christ sits on the throne.  I still have trouble staying away from the Baal of chocolate to this day.  You laugh, but I love Chocolate and it tempts me every day. We have chocolate in our house where once a day, after evening dinner, Kathy and I will each have one Chocolate.  When I am home alone I want to go steal a chocolate and eat it even though they are for sharing with my wife only.

We all have a god of Baal in our lives that desires to sit upon the throne of our hearts and direct our lives.  People everywhere are worshipping a Baal and since everyone else is doing it, it makes worshipping Baal seem normal.  We are addicted to many Baalim who sit where God should be.

Baal means 'owner'. We need to pray and ask God who is the Baal that is mastering us.  Are we owned by Baal or by God?

Photo Credit: God is the Source of Man's Life by Maltz Evans

Ezekiel 38 invasion of Israel

The Middle East is in turmoil and it is getting worse every day.  Turkey, Russia, and Iran have joined together in an alliance.  Iran now has missile sites in Syria, close to the border of Israel.  In order to keep their military safer, Iran is moving troops into Damascus.  The Middle East is not falling apart,  it is all falling together as the Bible prophecied. 

I am telling you here what I see going on today from my own research.  This is not God speaking, but me and I can be wrong.  So check it out for yourself.

President Trump has just announced that the USA will move its embassy from Tele Viv to Jerusalem.  The Arabs are not happy but I am sure God is happy to see us recognizing Jerusalem, just as the Bible says it is the Capital of Israel.  This announcement could be the catalyst for nations to try to invade and destroy Israel.

What nations does the Bible say will try to invade Israel?  Look at the map above and see. Russia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, Libia, and Ethiopia.  Notice which nations are not going to invade.  .  The two nations that at this moment are on friendly terms with Israel, Saudia Arabia, and Egypt

Isaiah 17 is a prophecy that Damascus will be totally destroyed.  Could it be because Israel will destroy it so that the Iranians stationed there will be killed?  These things are all very possible right now.  We are seeing the prophecies of God being fulfilled right before our eyes.  Many in the world will be fearful but as a Christian, we have nothing to fear because God is in control. 

These are the end times and we should be looking for the Lord's return, but while we are still on this world we are to be working.  There are souls who will die in their sins unless we tell them about salvation in Jesus Christ.

The time is short and the harvest is great. 

Jehovah-Jireh

Abraham brought his only son Isaac to the mountains region of Moriah where Jerusalem sits today, so he could obey God's command to sacrifice his beloved son who was promised to him by God.  He trusted God's promise that Isaac would be the beginning of generations of Abraham's descendants in spite of being told to kill Isaac.

Isaac noticed that as they walked up the mountain that they didn't have a lamb for the sacrifice.  Abraham told him, "My son, Jehovah-Jireh (God will provide) for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." Genesis 22:8a

When they reached the top and Isaac was laid upon the wood to be sacrificed, an angel stopped him from plunging the knife into Isaac.  It was then that a ram was seen caught in a thicket and they sacrificed the ram which God provided to Abraham.  Abraham named that place, "Jehovah-Jireh" which means "The LORD will provide"

About 1600 years later on the mountains of Moriah, God provided another lamb to be sacrificed.  Jesus Christ was crucified there for the sins of the world.  Again Jehovah-Jirah provided a lamb.

Just as God provided to Abraham so that he could fulfill what God desired of him, God provides to us so that we can obey Him.  When God asks us to do something we think impossible, we are probably right.  We can not fulfill God's desires for us in the flesh but when we trust God to provide, all things are possible.

God is trustworthy.  He will never call upon us to minister without providing all that we need to fulfill His desires.  Always trust Jehovah-Jirah.

Photo Credit: Golgotha by R~P~M

Life is Found in God

Have you ever picked a bouquet of flowers and set them on a table in a pretty vase?  The look so beautiful and their fragrance fills the room.  Flowers are used in weddings, given to the people we love and to cheer up those who are sick.  They are a wonder of God and look so alive.

Their appearance is one of life but soon they will droop and wither away.  Those flowers had the outward appearance of life, but without nourishment, they quickly reveal that they can no longer sustain life.  From the time they are separated from their roots, they are in an imminent spiral to death. 

I have friends that I have known for many years who loved the lord, went to church weekly and read their Bibles daily.  They decided the church was not for them and slowly they have spiraled into a spiritual death spin.  No one holds them accountable or encourages them.  They stop reading scripture and it doesn't take long before they live a life no different than anyone else in the world.

We are to meet regularly with other believers.  Separating from the church will end in disaster.   We are to read God's word.  Separating ourselves from the Scriptures will end in falling into the sinful traps of the world.

God loves you so much and wants to show you that love through other believers and tell you Himself through His word.  Do not cut yourself off from God.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Your White Stone with a New Name

"And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone, a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." Revelation 2:17b

Jesus gave this promise to those in the churches who overcome.  The people who turn away from the ways of the world and follow Christ.  Isn't it interesting that the stone will not have your name on it but will have a 'new name' written on it?  Why a new name?

There are many times that God renames someone.  Abram and Sarai became Abraham and Sarah, Simon became Peter, and Jacob became Israel.  God also named Adam, but then He had Adam name his wife and all the animals.  Giving a name to someone or something is a very important act.

To name someone means that you are going to oversee them.  You are taking responsibility for their life.  You will protect them and see that they have food, clothing, and all that they need.  You are the head of the one you name and will guide them in the best ways to go.  You are their leader and their greatest servant.

God named Adam because God was the one responsible for protecting and guiding Adam.  He oversaw Adam's life so that Adam would have the best life possible.  Adam named the animals and Eve because he was to oversee them.  He was to provide and protect them.

When we marry, the woman takes the man's name.  He is naming her and is taking responsibility for her every need.  He is the head of the house because when good or bad occurs within the home, he is ultimately responsible to God for his family. 

God gives us a new name because He has taken responsibility for us. He is the one who is responsible to care for us.  Jesus is our head and Jesus is the one responsible for all the good and the bad that we have done in our lives.  He took the bad by dying for our sins and we give him the glory for the good which is found in our lives.

We have a new name because we now have a new king on the throne of our hearts.  A king who provides for our needs and is willing to even die for us.  That new name is the whole gospel personally written for you.

Photo Credit: Singled Out by Domiriel