The Beginning, Middle, and the End

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
HEB.11:3
Jesus often went back to the way things were in the beginning to teach us, after all He is the beginning of all things. He is the initiator, or author of all things spiritual and good in our lives. He is also the finisher of these things; He authors, sustains, and brings to completion His plans in our lives. His work of creation continues in us at all times. Think about this as we begin a brand new year, the Lord is present at the first day of the year, the last day of the year, and actively involved in all of the days in between. What is our role in all of this? We look to Him daily, follow His plans for us, and trust Him to bring His purposes and plans to completion. I am excited about 2017, I expect a new sense of spiritual hunger in our culture. Secularism has run its course, I think this generation is beginning to hunger for something more. Here are some thoughts from Luther on today’s verse as we prepare for 2017.
“In other words, the author of Hebrews is saying that through Christ, the Father continually makes the invisible become visible. He makes what is nonexistent come into existence. A hundred years ago none of us could be seen. People who will be born ten or twenty years from now can’t be seen either. They haven’t been born and don’t exist yet. But when they are born, they will become visible and real. Christ is the one who creates something visible from the invisible. Through him, heaven and earth were created out of nothing. Christ the Lord was present when everything was created. He wasn’t merely a spectator, but was equal to the Creator. He was the Father’s coworker. He will continue to rule and will sustain everything until the end of the world. He is the beginning, the middle, and the end for everything and everyone.”
Did you catch that? The Lord will continue to rule and sustain everything until the end of the world. That everything includes your life and your new year. Listen to the Lord as 2017 draws near, be willing to change even if it makes you uncomfortable. He is able to start, sustain, and finish everything He proposes.

Original Article