Journal Entry // December 10, 2021
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:8 ESV
I know this verse. My brain has this verse etched into it’s memory. My prayers are laced with this verse. I truly love this verse. Yet in my practical day to day living, I oftentimes forget about this verse. I live my life as though God is just another object in my life and not the all encompassing Almighty. I will try to put God in a box, a box of my own designation, and even put that box up on a shelf with all the others. Why? So I can deal with God on my own terms and when he asks too much of me, I can simply close up that box and put it away.
Foolishness. There is no boxing up the Almighty one. There is no hiding from the eyes of the Lord. There is no running from his presence. He is the beginning and the end. He is all in all. This is the truth that must inform all of my life. Every second of time, every cell of my body, every fiber of my being is to be brought under obedience to the Almighty.
Why is it so easy to want this to happen and so easy to not want this to happen at the same time? This continual double-mindedness is what the first couple chapters of revelation are pointing out to me. The message to the churches was essentially showing this duplicity of following Christ and failing to do this in every area and sphere of life. The message contains a “but this I have against you.” I see this in multiple areas of my life. Where my desire is to follow Christ, but my flesh wants to box him out of certain areas. There are parts I am still unwilling to relinquish.
So what’s the message to the double-minded in revelation? Repent. It’s always the same message of repentance. Turn from your sinfulness and disobedience saying no to unrighteousness. Then embracing Christ as he truly is. Embracing the fullness of the Almighty. Repent and believe. Every moment… Moment by moment… Grace upon grace… Let your heart be captured by the magnificence of the Almighty. The one who is eternal and trustworthy. Steadfast in love. Keep repenting and keep embracing Christ. In humility, work out your salvation by fighting indwelling sin and darkness with the pure light of the gospel radiating within, keeping your eyes focused on Jesus alone.