Alpha And Omega – Invitations from God

I am continually impressed when I open God’s word.

There always seems to be an invitation somewhere in the text to take action to draw closer to God.

Invitations from God start in the first book and continue through the whole Bible – finishing at the end of the last chapter of the last book!

Let’s look at the first invitation in Genesis. In the first two chapters, God creates everything behaviour in this perfectly created, sinless, environment. 

Of course, man falls. Our omniscient, omnipresent God understands His creation – see Psalm 94:11 – and could have harshly judged this fall from grace. But, look at His approach to the disgraced Adam.

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” – Genesis 3:8-9 (KJV).

Where art thou? As if God did not know. A quiet call for truth between God and man. God’s love clearly on display. God’s forgiveness available to the contrite heart.

And so it has remained until time will be no more. God is instantly ready to forgive and forget man’s sin because of the provision made in Christ.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” – Romans 5:1-2 (KJV).

God pleads with man so many times through the course of the scriptures, and we could stop in so many places and review so many events – but even when the end times are revealed in the Revelation, God still takes one look back, offering one last chance for those reading His last word.

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” –  Revelation 22:11-13 (KJV).

Almighty God is ever willing to redeem His creation.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” – Revelation 22:17 (KJV).

From the beginning until the end God provides a means of escape from the judgement that is necessary for those who have sinned against Him.

“Where art thou?” is a call that transcends time and has to be answered by everyone.

The blessing is that simple, chidlike faith is all that is required.

“ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” – Romans 10:17-18 (KJV).

There is NO plan “B”.

“Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” – Isaiah 45:21-22 (KJV).