Our lives are like a book. Different chapters, different characters, different locations, but God has a definite story to fill each page. Here we are starting a new month and it won’t be long until we welcome a new year.
So, let’s start at the beginning.
“In the beginning God…” Genesis 1:1a
In the beginning of creation – In the beginning of my life – In the beginning of my current situation – In the beginning GOD!
God was there at the very beginning and He’s still here halfway through and He will be there at the end! He has chosen to invest Himself in my life, in my world, in my total existence. As the King David said in the Psalms, “Selah”. Stop and think, meditate, ponder deeply these words.
He hasn’t pulled back yet and He won’t. He will continue to be involved in all He has created for all eternity – He is the eternal, the everlasting God and Father. And He’s here for us because He loves us!
“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV
Jesus spoke these words. He had referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd who leads us, His sheep. He leads us to green pastures; He protects us from our enemies; He gave His life to save ours.
I grew up singing this hymn, He Lives, and the older I get the more I realize the message in the words.
“I serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.
He lives, he lives Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!”
Amen! He lives and, in His living, He provides for all that we need.
“Jesus is the one who says that all of this is true. Now he says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all people.” Revelation 22:20-21 ERV
It should give us great joy to know that He is coming soon.
Yes, with all the uncertainty in the world one thing is certain, He is coming soon. And He was and is and will continue to be kind to all. That’s the reason He came, out of love, He became our substitute, the sacrifice for our sins so that we can be reconciled to the Father. Forgiveness is ours; new life is ours; restoration is ours – we simply need to receive it as the free gift that it is.
When we focus on our beginning, we’ll find God and as we look to the end, we will see that He’s coming. And in the middle, He is reaching out to us in kindness, wanting to be involved in our daily lives in a powerful way.
Beginning, middle and end, Lord, we place it all in your hands.