I Am Alpha and Omega

One of the repeated messages of the book of Revelation is that the Savior is both the beginning and the end, the first and the last. We see this particularly in the first chapter. John recorded, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (1:8). He again quoted the Savior who said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” (1:11). The Savior said as well, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead” (1:17-18). He described Himself similarly in His introduction to the church at Smyrna: “These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive” (2:8). Near the end of the book the Savior emphasized this point again. John wrote, “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (21:6). John also recorded these words of Jesus in the final chapter of the book: “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” (22:12-13). The Savior wants us to understand that He was called from the beginning of time to be our Redeemer, and He will fulfill the mission of the Father unto the very end. He was the first one chosen in the premortal realm and yet He will be last to complete His work because our salvation is His work. He was first in knowledge and power among all of the Father’s children, and yet he came last in comfort and ease among all men who ever came to the earth—none have suffered more than he did.

                It is easy to overlook, but the amazon logo has a small arrow from the a to the z. This indicates that the popular shopping site has just about everything “from a to z.” Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last letter, and so in a similar manner perhaps saying that Christ is Alpha and Omega is like saying that He can help us with everything “from a to z”. The title of Alpha and Omega should remind us that He has all power and all wisdom and can help us get through anything. There is no pain we can experience that He won’t understand; there is no sin we can commit that He cannot help us overcome; there is no trial we can face that He can’t see us through. I love these words of Lauren Daigle from her song Thank God I Do about the Savior:   

I don't know where I'd go if You ever let go

So keep me held in Your hands

You're my safe place

My hideaway

You're my anchor

My saving grace

You're my constant

My steadiness

You're my shelter

My oxygen

I don't know who I'd be if I didn't know You

Thank God, I do 

To me that expresses well this idea that Christ is Alpha and Omega who can help us with everything and see us through anything. He’s a safe place, a hideaway, an anchor, our saving grace, a constant, our steadiness, a shelter—He’s like the oxygen we breathe that is both vital to life and ubiquitously available to use. Perhaps these words of scripture sum up best the essence of what it means for Him to be Alpha and Omega: “As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:7-13).