My stopping to self-reflect for a minute or two reveals a flawed, inner character. Of course, it may have pleasant overtones, some social tact, a couple of helpful tendencies, and a quick, toothy smile, but deep down there are ‘issues’ lurking, often undetected. Come to think of it, of all the wonderful people I’ve met, there’s never been a completely flawless human being (my apologies to all shocked, gentle readers). There are over eight billion (8,000,000,000) flawed earth inhabitants. If you think about it, that’s a fair load of ‘flaw’ living and breathing and scampering around on this globe. The evidence of ‘flaw’ is amply manifested in divorce courts, boardrooms, school board meetings, town and city councils, state and national governments, even international relations. (You, too, may have taken note).
Then there was Jesus. Physically, his coming was quiet, unremarkable. Spiritually, his coming was a battering ram smashing into our realm, tearing down barriers, putting evil on notice, terrifying the Foe, majestically ushering in the ‘Now’ Presence of the Kingdom of God. His Virgin Birth was as the Alpha Flawless One. His Resurrected Self was as the Omega, the guarantor of ultimate victory over sin and the grave and the eternal hope for all we flawed folk. He, Jesus, is Christianity’s center, the Head of the Church for all ages. Look at how Paul saw it, as variously translated in Ephesians 1:21-23.
“The power . . . raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” NIV
“And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised, not only in this age, but in the age that is coming! And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ and has given him the highest rank above all others. And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it!” TPT
“He’s above all rule, authority, power, and dominion; over every name invoked, over every title bestowed in this age and the next. God has placed all things beneath His feet and anointed Him as the head over all things for His church. This church is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.” VOICE
“God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.” MSG
The thrilling thing that I see here is that my flawed character, as well as the flawed character of the fullness of earth’s population, will ultimately submit to the Alpha-Omega One as this age wraps up. “For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day day we will see face-to-face.” 1 Cor. 13:12, TPT. Hallelujah! Looking forward to seeing y’all (flaws and all) tomorrow 10 AM, 3 PM, 4 PM. PD
