“And He that sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And he said unto me, ‘Write: for these words are true and faithful.'” Revelation 21:5
Dear Ones:
At the beginning of the book of Revelation, in the first chapter, we are confronted with a picture of Christ, and declaration from His own lips, that is brought before us again in the 21st chapter. The revelation and the declaration was this: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.” (1:8) Scripture goes on the speak of the Lord, “…which IS, and which WAS, and which IS TO COME, the Almighty.” Why does the Lord begin this communication of this great revelation, of His dealings with the church and the world, during the “latter days,” in the soon approach of the “day of the Lord?” The answer is partially found in the revelation of His unchanging person, His almighty power and authority, and His total victory over the enemy. Christ alone possesses the title of Alpha, as He Creator. He is the beginning of all that is good, and the conclusion of all that will be wrapped up and dealt with at His coming, with Him coming to save the believer, and judge the unbeliever. This is why, in His wisdom and justice, He is also called, the Omega. He is the beginning of creation, and the conclusion of it. He is thus, the only one who possesses the power and authority to create something NEW, and this, regardless of the sins of men, and the efforts of the enemy, Satan, to dissuade Him. Near the end of the book of Revelation, scripture declares: “And He that sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.” (21:5) He goes on to say, “It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” (v.6) So, the glorified Christ, possessor of heaven and earth, reveals Himself as the sovereign God, the same forever, and willing to make all things new. The question then must be asked, why is He giving us such a perception of His eternal power and might, His wisdom and love? How does it apply to us where we live, and what we are to be, and trust Him for?
In this passage in Revelation 21, we find a most remarkable description of Christ’s dealing with sinful man. It is a perception of things as they are, a theme that is found in the Old Testament, as well as in the New. It is the thirst that God gives to man, which has its satisfaction in God Himself. John writes: “I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” (v.6) In the book of Isaiah, the Lord addresses this same thirst: “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.” (44:3) The “thirst” that man has known from the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, has persisted to this day, through the time of the writings of Isaiah, through the gospels where Jesus addressed the same issue, unto this very day…and beyond. But what is so remarkable about is that it is associated with the “new thing.” This “new thing” is mentioned in Isaiah’s day, where the Spirit of God is poured upon the thirsty soul. Here in the book of Revelation, we find the same remedy to thirst, the certain answer to such thirst. It is the giving and receiving of the Spirit of God. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, cried out: “If any man is thirsty, let him come unto Me and drink.” (Jn.7:37) It was the will of God in Jesus’ day, to fill the heart and soul with His Spirit. It was the same in Isaiah’s and John’s day. It is imperative that we see, and understand, and believe, that the same Alpha and Omega, from the creation of the world until now, and especially since Pentecost, wills to pour out His Spirit upon the thirsty soul. The question is: Who will truly live by faith, first of all, coming to God, and then, receiving?
Dear Father, Fill us today with Thy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad