I am the First and I am the Last

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I am the First and I am the Last

There are all sorts  of belief systems  in this world.     Most all of them refer  to multiple powers  over various areas  of life.     But,  the LORD God Almighty sets the record straight.     In Isaiah 44:6-7,  God makes His case  by saying,

The LORD,  the King of Israel,  and His Redeemer,  the LORD of armies,  says:   I am the First,  and I am the Last,  and there is no god besides Me.     Who is like Me?     Let him be named,  announce,  and lay in order before Me  what happened  since I appointed an ancient people.     Then let them tell the future  and predict what is going to happen!

Out of all those that claim  to be gods  of some sort,  there is not one  that can tell the future  like the LORD can and does.     Their predictions are faulty  and cannot come to fruition.     The LORD God challenges people  to name a god  who can honestly do more  than the LORD God has done.     He says,  “Let him be named.”     None of the gods can show  that they have done anything  like the Lord has done.     What God has done is recorded  throughout history  to prove itself.

Because the LORD tells  what the future holds  and it comes true exactly as He said — even thousands of years later  in the person of Jesus Christ — He has proven  that He has the power  to keep His word.     But,  what have any of these other gods shown?     When they try  to tell the future,  their words do not come to pass,  so they are meaningless.

That is a clue — a big red flag waving — as to what our opinion should be  about all these other gods,  philosophies,  cults, and new religious practices.     Because they do not have any power  to foretell the future,  they don’t honestly have any power at all.     They might try  to put on a big show  and sound impressive  with all their claims and boasting — but,  when it comes down  to the nuts and bolts  of things,  they are less than nothing.

So,  God says to us,  “I am the First,  and I am the Last,  and there is no god besides Me.”     Think about it.     Only the LORD has been able  to prophesy intricate details  about the Christ  over thousands of years,  and have them all come true  in Jesus.     Has any other god done anything like that?     Name one.     Nobody can name even one.     Therefore,  God points out to us,  “There is no god besides Me.”     That has got to be true  because no other god has the power  to foretell anything.

Why are people running  after all these other gods,  philosophies,  cults, and new religious practices?     Is it because they don’t want  to honestly confess their sins?     Is it because they want  to see themselves as righteous  and able to handle everything  in life  apart from the LORD?     Do they want  to be their own little god  of sorts?

Everybody’s reasoning is different,  but they have one thing  in common.     They don’t want  to submit  to the proven truths set before us  in God’s word  —  the Bible.     It might be too humbling.     One has to admit their weaknesses  and God’s eternal power — salvation in Jesus Christ alone.

And yet,  to know God’s power and love is  the most precious thing  we can know.     When we realize  how beloved we are,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     LORD,  it’s wonderful!     It’s marvelous!     You alone are LORD and God over all — and You love even me!     Blessed be Your saving love.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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