If you are like me, you probably have your “nose to the grindstone.” This old phrase which now refers to “working hard or diligently” comes from the bent over position of knife sharpeners sharpening knives. It is an accurate description of most of our lives. Yet, we often fail to see the bigger picture when we are so focused on our daily routine. The Bibles reminds us again and again of the big picture.
I have been thinking about where we are in God’s prophetic plan for humanity. If you are like me you may have even begun to dabble in the book of Revelation. It really is a worthwhile endeavor should you also be interested. The one truth that stands out above all the apocalyptic imagery is that “God has it covered!” Yes, there are many things happening before our lives that could be a precursor to the Lord’s return, like coming digital currency (i.e. “Fed Coin.”) plus a number of other things happening all around us. Yet the bottom line for those that are born from above is that “God has you covered!”
I want to focus on one verse from the book of Revelation. It is, “““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) It is hard to miss, even if you are not familiar with the context of this verse, that John is reminding us that “God has things covered.” It is a fitting introduction for all the apparent turmoil that unfolds in the rest of the Revelation. The Apostle John’s encounter with the glorified risen Christ is overwhelming to say the least. His introduction reflects this. Now, it is commonly believed that in our verse he is making reference to the Heavenly Father. The phraseology used is consistent with character qualities attributed to the God the Father. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “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) But John’s introduction could have also been influenced by what he experienced. He records for us at the end of Revelation the proclamation of Jesus Christ, “And 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 from the spring of the water of life without payment.” (Revelation 21:6)
It is easy for us to forget that the triune God actually created time, just read Genesis chapter 1; and as is revealed in Revelation, He is working throughout human history to bring to fulfillment that time when believing individuals will worship Him forever and enjoy His presence through the person of Jesus Christ.
It is good to be a person with their “nose to the grindstone” in the middle of times when there is a shortage of diligence. But we need to be reminded, at times, to take a moment and gaze towards Heaven and ponder not on the beauty of Creation but the beauty of our Creator. Those that belong to Jesus have something to look forward too! And we can have peace on earth, as Jesus put it ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1–3) And as we have seen “He has it covered!”
-Pastor Joe Parkinson