If you think of glory as light, it is bright; we are amazed and blinded in its presence.
Love, though, is warm; we are invited to enter it, to be enveloped by its welcome.
Imagine these two portions of the spectrum coming together, one bleeding into the other, each becoming part of the other. You find it hard to distinguish them as separate.
Now think of God.
And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."
Revelation 21:5-6
If you live in a world of immediate deadlines, then you know these three words are music to the ears: “It is done!” Homework is done, SATs in the past, practice over, the assignment complete: It is done! (The exclamation mark is necessary.)
A deep sigh of relief follows, and all is well with the world. That is, until the next deadline. There is always more to come; in fact, another one lurks right around the corner.
Not so with God. When God says all is done, that Jesus is the Alpha, Omega, beginning, and end, then it means we can stop searching. It means that our joy and hope is found in God and God alone. It means our sense of purpose and direction is in the Creator, the one who knows our names and calls us God’s own. When God declares “It is done!” it means just that: it is done. Nothing better is around the corner, and nothing can come even close to the unconditional love and steadfast presence of our Lord.
Aram Bae
God of glory and love, thank you for being complete and perfect while I am incomplete and imperfect. When I am tempted to look elsewhere for that which only you can provide, bring me back to you. For you alone are my Alpha, Omega, beginning, and end. Amen.
God the Creator, guide my heart and fill it with kindness and gentleness.
God the Redeemer, clear my mind and focus me with mercy and grace.
God the Sustainer, steady my soul and convict it with justice and truth.
As you bless me today with your glory and love, may I bless others too.