The Alpha and the Omega

A Christmas Message from Cora

"Life is cruel and unfair", I found myself thinking as we watched a fascinating but heart‑wrenching program about the life of a wolf pack.  A couple raised the wolves and watched the pack evolve, becoming accepted as "members" themselves.  This allowed them to observe the behavior of each individual in great detail.  Wolf packs, we learned, are always run by a dominant male designated the "Alpha".  He is the supreme authority and the only one to have offspring.  There is a Beta male who assists especially in caring for the young and keeping track of all the members.  But the most pathetic thing was to observe what is called the "Omega".  This wolf is despised and rejected by all yet subservient and submissive to all.  He is the last to get to eat whatever scraps are left when food is available and is shunned and excluded from all pleasurable activities.  But when any turmoil or disagreement arises in the pack, he becomes the focus of it all ‑ it is all laid on him.  The documenters say the Omega actually keeps the peace and assures the well‑being of the pack by defusing the aggression and anger among the pack members by taking it on himself.  It is not his desire or choosing to do this but his lot in life that falls to him for unknown reasons.  He is always working toward and hoping for elevation through replacement by a new  "Omega" which at times happens when youngsters mature.  But, most often, he remains in his lowly status.

As we watched the hardships and misery this wolf endured, we wondered how he retained any will to live as the others tormented him though they never wounded him enough to cause death.  At one point, being in a time of hurt and confusion about my own suffering, I blurted out, "I feel like I'm God's 'Omega'".  Immediately the Spirit of the Lord rose up in me and pointed me to Jesus in His great declaration, "I am the Alpha and the Omega".  WOW!  As I spoke it out to the family, suddenly we had a new deeper revelation of Jesus and all He had done.  We thought Christmas would be a good time to share this reflection with you.

Jesus was, before His coming, and always will be, since His resurrection, the "Alpha". But for our sakes, in His first coming (Christmas), He willingly became the Omega of all men.  To be Creator of the Universe and become not just a man, but a despised and rejected man, lowly, meek and subservient is too mind boggling to really comprehend.  But Isaiah 53:3‑5 tells it all.  "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.  Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.  But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed."  And although He did it willingly and for the joy set before Him, the grief and agony were very deep and felt in every part of His being ‑ body, soul and spirit.

Sometimes we think of Jesus' suffering only in terms of the cross.  But His whole life on earth involved great and unimaginable loss and sacrifice.  As I sought the Lord for what this message was to be, I felt He wanted to speak a strong word of encouragement and exhortation to us all.  Although I have felt and shared with you the Lord's pain over our concept of Christmas many times over the years, I realized I was feeling a great personal loss myself over not being able to have these things.  I felt like an outsider, an Omega, and began dreading Christmas.  And we know from published studies that Christmas time is the worst time for hurting, lonely people, even causing suicide rates to climb because the pain is so magnified by the frenzied partying, gift giving and merriment of those around them.  Isn't it strange that at Christmas we become the most self‑seeking, pleasure‑oriented and worldly‑minded in "celebration" of Jesus coming to live as an Omega?

Here is the essence of what the Lord shared with me.  It is for everyone going through a fire, for every captive as yet undelivered though waiting, for those who mourn and cannot be cheered by twinkling lights or fancy presents.  It is to such and for such that Jesus comes.  He urged me, "Can you lay down your disappointment and fellowship with Me a while in My suffering?  Can you identify with Me for just a little while longer and endure with hope and even gladness because of Me?"  I believe His word to all who are suffering right now is, "Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself ‑ reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials ‑ so that  you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds." (Hebrews 12:3 Amp)

So dear ones, again we are reminded ‑ our lives are not our own.  And if we fellowship with Him in His sufferings, we will also share His glory.  We will know Him fully as both Alpha and Omega and partake of both aspects of His Life.  Whatever the season of your life, give yourself to Him.  If you are in sorrow, seek to comfort other sufferers and you will actually be comforting Him and will receive comfort from Him.  Rejoice in Him through your pain and you will receive joy from Him.  Make peace with Him even when you can't understand the way He has led and you will receive His Peace.  Celebrate His coming as Omega and look up!  Soon He comes again as Alpha ‑ even so come quickly Lord Jesus!