God’s not dead. He’s surely alive.

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

“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 (NIV))

Based on these words, you could easily question at what point does God begin and at what point does He end. The ultimate conclusion from these words is that He is forever.

Have you ever thought about the symbol for infinity? This sideways figure 8 has no beginning and no end and the three-dimensional representation of it only has one side due to the way that it twists around and rejoins itself.

Does God have a beginning and an end? Does God ever change? God was there in the beginning and He will be there forever.

It is so fascinating that with every end comes a new beginning. No where is this more evident than now with the start of a brand new year. Was God there on December 31? Was God there on January 1? Is He there today? Will He be there tomorrow?

God is eternal!

Did God perform great things in the past? Is God the same forever?

Do you expect great things from God?

He has the end planned from the beginning.

Many people are looking forward to what God has planned in the future. Ironically enough, I saw something in a headline today where a Muslim astrologer was predicting that Israel would be strong in 2014. Has God given the enemy a glimpse of what He is going to do?

God has given us details of His plans. All that we have to do is pray and study His Word. To quote a line from a song – “God’s not dead. He’s surely alive.” It is time that the Body of Christ act like He is alive and strong!

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
(Revelation 21:1-8 (NIV))

We have been given many wonderful pictures of what eternity with God will be like. The first part of this scripture is perhaps one that many people think of when they think of heaven and eternity with God. It is an extremely pleasant picture.

Now, consider the last part of this scripture. Many people choose to ignore this. They do not wish to acknowledge that we were told that the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars will not see this place, but will experience a much different outcome.

Who are these people who will experience this outcome? All those who have not truly accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior (the unbelieving) will see this second death.

What about all of the other descriptions?

Consider that if you truly have accepted Jesus, then you are washed white as snow and all your transgressions are removed. In addition, the desire to continue will be removed if you truly have accepted Jesus. Without Jesus, not a single person can live as God calls us to live.

Are you living within God’s plan?

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What is your refuge and shield?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
(Psalms 119:114 (NIV))

What is your refuge and shield? What do you put your hope in?

Do you turn to worldly things for your shield? Do you store worldly things as your refuge?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
(Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV))

Everything in this world will either die or decay. What is there that we can place our trust in when all around us is fleeting – here today and gone tomorrow?

There is only one thing that is eternal and unchanging. He is the alpha and the omega. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is God.

We must place our faith in Him so that we, too, may lay claim that God is our refuge.

But the LORD has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
(Psalm 94:22 (NIV))

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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