God Is Alive!
Scripture Reading — Revelation 1:4-8
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
In the movie God's Not Dead, a university professor who is an avowed atheist insists on the first day of class that all of his students sign a statement saying, "God is dead!" Everyone signs the statement—except for one student, a Christian, who sets out to convince the class that God is not dead. He uses several Bible passages to back his claim.
Today's verses tell us in clear and unmistakable language that the God of the Bible, the God we serve, is alive. He is the God "who is, and who was, and who is to come." These words serve notice to everyone that this God who lives in eternity is also in charge of the universe. He is "the ruler of the kings of the earth." He has come to us through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, "the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead."
Someday, perhaps sooner than we think, the ruler of the universe, the Lord our God, will come again. And on that day every eye will see him, and every knee will bow, even the knees of those who refuse to believe in him.
Today this Lord still offers his grace and peace to each one of us, and he invites us to acknowledge him as Lord of all.
Have you recognized Christ as the Lord of all?
Dear Lord, please use us to spread the good news that you are alive forevermore. And come soon, Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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