By: Scott Adkins, Sling ‘n Stone Ministry
Carter County Times
Who Is Jesus Christ? We plumb the depths of that question to learn about Who calls us to “be thou faithful unto death.” (Rev. 2:10). In Revelation 1:8, the Lord spoke, identifying Himself as “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, … which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8). But what does this profound identity mean, and how should its meaning encourage our dying to self each day, and if called upon, suffering persecution or martyrdom?
“Alpha and Omega” comes from the Greek alphabet – Alpha, the first letter, and Omega, the last letter. Why the Greek alphabet here? First century Mediterranean folks spoke Greek. So, the Lord pointed to the Greek alphabet to help folks understand He IS the first and last of everything that exists, and of anything that ever will exist. Nothing and no one – neither Mohammed, Budda, nor countless other false messiahs come before, or stand above, The Lord Jesus Christ. He IS Alpha and Omega, eternally preceding all. King David knew this and wrote, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God.” (Psalms 90:2).
The Lord further declared Himself the One, “which is, and which was, and which is to come(.)” (Revelation 1:8). That is, The Lord Jesus Christ stands for all eternity – eternity past; eternally now; and eternity to come – as the One without beginning or end, the One before all things. He has no maker, no beginning, no end, and no source outside Himself.
The Lord Jesus Christ did not begin His existence in Mary’s belly or at some Bethlehem goat barn. He IS the Uncreated One. No false messiah dares to make THAT claim. Jesus, however, does because He alone can. Why? Because He alone is the Uncreated One, without beginning or end.
Moses asked, “Whom shall I say sent me to demand the Jews’ freedom,” The Lord answered: I AM THAT I AM (Exodus 3:14). The Lord’s identity here overwhelms the human mind and defies understanding. Completing His already inscrutable identity, The Lord Jesus Christ declared Himself: THE ALMIGHTY.
The Lord did so, some think, to assure His servants throughout the ages that we serve the Almighty Uncreated One whose power, like His existence, is infinite; beyond our understanding, and without source or origin outside the Lord Himself. Wow!
Throughout the ages, countless soldiers gallantly gave all to serve their countries’ causes. But how much more worthy a cause, to serve our Lord Jesus Christ? His servants’ answer: Serving our Lord Jesus Christ presents the one cause worthy of daily dying to self and, if called upon, “be(ing) faithful unto death.”
“Why?” the world asks. Because our Lord Jesus Christ, the Uncreated One, alone IS “the truth,” (John 14:6), assuring us that He IS ‘Alpha and Omega… The Almighty.’” That’s why.