Jan 04 - STARTING AND ENDING WITH GOD

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen 1:1).

      God is at the beginning of the Word of God and also at the end. ‘Amen’ is the last word of the Bible (Rev 22:21), and one name for God is ‘Amen’ (Rev 3:l4).

      'Amen’ also means, ‘So it is’ or ‘So be it.’ We must begin our life with God, and also end it with God. Then God will also say ‘Amen’ as a word of recognition and appreciation as we finish our earthly life.

     The last word in the Old Testament is ‘curse’ (Malachi 4:5). The Old Testament which is otherwise known as the Law ended in a ‘curse’ and not in a blessing. If we are to end our life with God, we must not be bound by law but by love.

      It is also interesting to observe that while the Bible begins with ‘God’ and ‘heaven’ and also ends with ‘God’ and ‘heaven’, the book of Genesis begins with ‘God’ and ‘heaven’ but ends with ‘death’ and a ‘coffin in Egypt’. “Joseph died, … he was put in a coffin in Egypt” (Gen 50:26). While God offers heaven to us at the end, Egypt or this world can offer only death and a coffin.

     Child of God, it’s important to begin your life with God, it’s important to begin every year, every month, every day, every project, everything you embark on, with God. It’s even more important to finish it gloriously, to finish it with God.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion