Revelations 22:12-21

Read Revelations 22:12-21

Verses for meditation: Revelations 22:12-13, 16, 20-21 ESV:

12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Reflect

How does it feel to be reading the very last few verses of the bible?

What do the proclamations, the last few of them, say about Christ?

Come, Lord Jesus! Does this really express our desire?

How does the greatest book end, and on what note?

But is this really the end?

Relate

With mixed feelings, I'm writing this last devotion based on the final ten verses of the greatest book, the bible.

What a journey it’s been, reading and covering the bible from Genesis to Revelation. This includes reflecting on the verses, relating to the events and resting on the truths.

In John 1: 1, we're told that in the beginning, Christ was with God. We're also told that he is God. Yet, we know, too, that he is distinct from God. 

Here, we see the proclamation 'I'm the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end' bearing striking similarity to the one about God himself. It's clearly a reiteration that Christ is the very revelation of God. Therefore, to know Christ is to know God. He's the perfect mirror image of God. Imagine then what it is to be Christlike. It’s to conform to the image of God, in whose image we're created in the first place.

Previously also in John 15: 1 and 5, he refers to himself as the true vine and to us as the branches. This time round, he calls himself 'the Root'. Indeed, the most important part of the vine is the root. Running beneath the surface of the ground, it supports the whole vine by bringing it nutrition and providing the necessary stability. If, for any reason, the vine is uprooted, the whole vine will cease to survive. Many of us are hanging on as uprooted vines. We're not even aware that we're not surviving, let alone thriving.

So, are we serious about desiring Christ's return? Are we not apathetic towards the whole idea? Although no one really knows the actual day and time of his return, not even Christ himself, we still need an appropriate response to this all - important event, the crowning glory of the gospel. More so now than ever after reading the entire gospel and Revelation.

The next apt question then is 'How are we preparing for it?"

Some have been devoting their days to the work of translating the bible - to make it available to every person in their language. Some others have been reaching out to the unreached people - to bring the gospel to the four corners of the world. Still others have been actively sharing the gospel with friends, neighbours, and even strangers - to seize every opportunity there is to witness. Kudos to them all. Yes, we should all be doing our part to contribute to this great endeavour through every means possible. But is it only about the bible, missions and evangelism?

What about discipleship? In my opinion, discipleship should be foremost. We need to get our act together in our personal discipleship, which goes beyond the regular reading of the Word, prayer, church attendance and witnessing. Discipleship has to do with the lordship of Christ and being Christlike in every possible way.

So, how are we faring in the area of lordship and how Christlike have we become?

Today is a good day to ask ourselves these questions. Call it, if you will, the KPIs of discipleship. As we reflect on the year that’s soon passing, can we say, with a hand on our left chest, that we have been a disciple of Christ?

If we have been trying, take comfort from the grace of the Lord. It is the grace of the Lord that will ultimately see us through. For that is how the book of Revelation ends. It ends on a gracious note: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Who then are these people of God? I believe it refers to the disciples. And why not the disciples?

All this may sound like an ending, a conclusion. In a way it is since we've come to the end of our 2 - year bible reading programme. We're finally now at the very last passage of the bible. Not to mention that we’re also at the close of 2024. But the end of the matter is just the beginning of another as the end sits on the threshold of a new beginning.

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." (Seneca)

Let us not see this as the end then. Instead, let us look forward as Abraham looked forward (Hebrew 11: 10) and as Paul pressed on toward (Philippians 3: 14).

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." (C. S. Lewis)

 

Rest

Lord, help us look forward like Abraham. Help us press on like Paul. Help us go for the things that really matter. And may what we hope matters as well. For you are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. May your grace be with us, your people. Both now and till your return. Maranatha!

Naville Chia

PS. A blessed 2025!