Thus, says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6
Happy new year. Thanks be to the Lord for making a way for us in 2020 during Covid-19 where there seemed to be no way for many people. As you enter 2021, you will mount up with wings as eagle and begin to fly in Jesus Name. Isaiah 40:31
In the beginning, God the Father created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). This was an instantaneous, miraculous creation out of nothing. This act is only attributed to God Almighty. So, in year 2021, God, the Almighty can meet all your needs out of nothing, because He knows the end from the beginning and because of His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
Christ is the beginning and the ending. He is the final goal or destination in which all life is moving either to be saved by Him, judged by Him, or ruled by Him. Paul referred to the Lord as the mark he was pressing for. Isaiah 44:6 says-Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Revelation 1:8 says -I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” We do know that what the Lord has begun, He will finish because He is the Alpha and the Omega. Philippians 1:6 says, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. This year 2021, may the protection of the Lord be upon you and your family and may He perfect all that concerns you. As you have seen the beginning of 2021, you will see the end and beyond in Jesus name.
God is our Helper and great Satisfier Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” God tells us not to be afraid because He is with us. We are not alone. God is with us! In fact, the name for Jesus, Emmanuel, means “God is with us.” God promises to strengthen us for whatever trial that comes our way. That is usually the way the Lord works. He usually does not remove the trial. He gives us grace, courage, and strength to go through the trial, which in turn, helps us to mature.
We can conquer fear in our lives, not only because God strengthens us, but He also helps and holds us when we are unable to overcome our trials and fear. He promises to help us. What a blessing. The psalmist said, “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). David said, “Behold, God is mine helper” (Psalm 54:4a). The writer of Hebrews said, “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6). In the year 2021, the Lord who knows the beginning and the ending of your problems says he will help you.
God helped Israel to conquer the city of Jericho. God helped Gideon to conquer 135,000 Midianites with only 300 men. God helped Daniel to discover and interpret the dream of the king. God helped Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to boldly take a stand against idolatry when their lives were at stake and He protected them when they were thrown into the fire. Thank God, we can say, The Alpha and Omega is our helper. You are not alone if you know the Lord as your Savior.
The Alpha and Omega who wrought supernatural deliverances for Apostles Peter and Paul in prison in Acts 5:18-20; 12:3-11; and 16:26, is still the same today. He will bring unexpected deliverances your way in year 2021 in Jesus name.
The most important decision to take in year 2021 is to make the Lord the Alpha and Omega of your life by doing the following:
1. Make your desire to be always for the Lord. Psalm 42:1-2—As the hart pants after the water brooks, so pants my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
2. You cannot find true, lasting contentment in anything without Him in your life. He is the health of our life. Psalm 43:5—Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
3. You will hate that which hurts your fellowship with God. You will hate your sin. Psalm 119:104, 113—Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore, I hate every false way; I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
4. You will grieve over the things that grieve God. Psalm 119:136—Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
5. Praise the Lord to point others to Him. Psalm 9:11—Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. Isaiah 42:12—Let them give glory unto the Lord and declare his praise in the islands.
6. You cannot bear to be out of fellowship with God. It should bother you if you are not close to the Lord in Bible reading and praying. John 20:13—And they say unto her, Woman, why are you weeping? She saith unto them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
7. Be willing to suffer for Him. 2 Timothy 4:6—For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. Our love for the Lord is a sign of His love for us. 1 John 4:19—We love him, because he first loved us.
As the curtain of year 2021 is opened, you are introduced to the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8).
Welcome to January 2021, the month of the Alpha and Omega.
Yours in the Lord, Pastor Dr. Lillian Haastrup
