God with us - Week 50: Revelation 1:8
I find the book of Revelation hard work!
I start with the best intentions, get through the part about the seven churches, and then it all gets a bit full-on. I've read it and studied it and know people who absolutely love it, but I confess I find all the apocalyptic visions a little challenging. Treading carefully, I also see a bit of intellectual or theological snobbery when it comes to the book of Revelation. It reminds me of the Year 2 child who used to sit in class reading the final Harry Potter book because they had excellent decoding skills. Yes, they could read the words, but could they really follow the intricate plotlines and character development, or did they just want everyone to see them reading it? When it comes to the book of Revelation, I am the child in the class willing to admit that I may need to revisit it a few times before I know what's going on. Maybe 2022 is the year for me to finally buy a copy of Nick Pages' Road to Revelation' and get my head around the whole thing!
I'll keep you posted!
For now, this week's 'God with Us' verse has compelled me to delve into this complicated book.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End]," says the Lord God, "Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all]."
Revelation 1:8 (AMP)
I find these words comforting despite the complexity of the surrounding verses and the warnings of the end of times.
I confess that I'm writing this fresh out of a mini-meltdown!
Writing deadlines, Uni deadlines, Father Christmas duties, and Mum admin all caught up with me today, and I "had a moment." Feeling overwhelmed, I needed to get some perspective. I tend to be like the child with the giant Harry Potter book in my everyday life. Sure, I can decode the words, but I don't understand the plotline half the time, and I'm tired of all this character development. Revelation 1:8 reminds me that I don't need to understand all the intricacies of life because God is in control. He's the beginning, the end, and is with me through all the bits in between.
Life is complicated, there is loads going on, and the world isn't exactly in the best state at the moment. I've even heard friends genuinely ask if the visions of Revelation are about to become a reality.
I hope they were joking!
With new variants and more uncertainty, it's a difficult time for all of us. Some like to imagine they have all the answers and know how everything will pan out, while others see more restrictions on the horizon, and their anxiety levels start to rise. As has been the case every week of the 'God with Us' project, our verse for this week speaks into the heart of the situation.
God says…
I am the beginning
I am the end
and all the bits in between!
I'm A to Z. I'm The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive.
I'm the Sovereign-Strong.
Revelation 1:8 (MSG)
Kay Moorby
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