“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Revelation 1:8, 22:12-13 ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Jesus is the Eternal Son of God who was with the Father “before” Creation, through whom all things were created.
We rebelled against our Creator, thinking we could be like Him or had no need for Him.
Yet, God came to us, paying for our sins while reserving wrath for those who refuse to believe.
And Jesus is coming again.
He came as a baby, becoming like us to grow up and save us, and we remember this.
But we also remember that this Man is also our God – truly man and truly God at once and completely.
He died on a cross for us, but He arose again from the dead proving that this Jesus is our God of wrath and grace.
And He is returning soon in His wrath and grace to finally and completely fully redeem this world to Himself.
May we seek the Lord who has defeated sin and death, has saved us, and is coming back again in glory.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:13-14, ESV
Our God made us. He wrote our DNA and formed us. How much does He deserve our praise? Should we not want to strive to serve Him faithfully?
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13, ESV
We can get distracted and dismayed by this world, but we know that even rocks will cry out for God’s glory, let alone the loving things.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14, ESV
Our God created us, so we know that from conception into death and beyond He knows us and is capable of all things to and through us by His Holy Spirit.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4, ESV
Our God is capable of doing anything, having created a vast universe with only His words to demonstrate His power and glory. Therefore, we have hope that He can save us and give us eternal life, especially as He raised Jesus from the dead.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:20, ESV
It is so evident that there is a God who created everything that no one can honestly deny His existence. To do so shows the sin of denial and idolatry and the need of a Savior from God’s wrath. Jesus is our Savior!
There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Psalm 19:3, ESV
From the smallest interaction in an atom to the massive dance of galaxies, the order and cohesiveness of Creation shouts “There is a Creator!” Listen to the voice of that Creator, pointed to by nature and revealed in the Bible.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!