THE BEGINNING

THE BEGINNING:

“The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation says…” -Revelation 3:14a

It’s a new year full of possibilities and potential, so please allow me to wish you “Happy New Beginning!” At this point you’ve probably heard “Happy New Year!” from several people. You may have celebrated in Time Square with the Ball Drop countdown… You may have been at a fancy celebration dinner with a live band or orchestra, hundreds of people, libations, and dancing… or you may have spent the evening alone reflecting back on what has been lost. In any event, whatever the nature of your New Year’s Eve - today is not simply the start of a new year. No, instead it is an opportunity to welcome the Beginning!

The Bible begins with the Hebrew בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית. Transliterated into English it sounds like BraySheet. It means, “In the Beginning.” That Hebrew word is where we get the name for the first book of the Bible, Genesis. But unlike a fairy tale, or epic movie like Star Wars, our story isn’t one merely told “Once upon a time,” or “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” Nor is our story one told by human authors or invention. In Revelation 3:14 we read, “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation says…” -Revelation 3:14a

Earlier in Revelation, amazingly, Jesus Christ is the one revealed to John not only as the speaker with a voice like a trumpet and rushing waters, but also the “One like the Son of Man… the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look - I am alive forever and ever!” Shortly thereafter Jesus refers to Himself as, “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation.”

Your story, in fact our story, is not a fairy tale, myth, legend, or some epic tale of grandiose fiction. Instead, our story is the quintessential one of exclusive and ultimate reality. Our story is not one of mere aimless beginnings devoid of purpose, direction, or teleological significance, but rather of holy birth into and through the Beginning, i.e. Jesus Christ!

Now that the buzz and hoopla of the holidays has passed and the weight of reality begins to assert itself again, please take a moment to stop and assess the past few weeks… the past few months… the past few years… decades…  The accolades, the promotions, championships, awards, medals… or, contrastingly, the failures and loss. Of what true and lasting significance is any of it? The Bible has this to say of our existence, “...surely everyone is but a breath.”

When you read Genesis 1:1, “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Consider that it’s not trying to articulate a point in time, but rather communicating the Wellspring and Source of creation. In this case it would read more like, “God created the heavens and the earth in the Beginning.” Jesus Christ, the self-proclaimed and revealed Beginning, is the source code, or Originator, if you will, for the heavens, the earth, and the entirety of the universe; a material universe created as God’s holy dwelling place for the purpose of dwelling and thriving in relationship with the crown jewel of His creation - humanity.

Therefore, as 2017 begins anew, ripe with possibilities and opportunities, please don’t squander its divine potential with trivial resolutions that are but fleeting vapors and mere breaths. Instead, consider that the One who was dead, but is now alive forever and ever... the One who holds the keys to death and Hades… the One who is making all things new… the One who is the Beginning… the One who is life, and that life is the light of all mankind…  consider calling out to and loving Him.

May 2017 be the year when you find your identity in Christ Jesus and live that out in reckless abandon of obedience to faith. May it be the year when you find your new and true Beginning - Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com