Revelation 1:10-11a I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book,

Alpha meaning the beginning, Omega meaning the end, of what? He is referring to time, He was before time began and He will be after time ceases. Every expression man uses to express eternity is inadequate to comprehend eternity because we use words we understand to express something we will never see.

Eternity is timeless, time does not exist in eternity. We have no point of reference to describe such an existence, if it is an existence at all. Existence is a time related word. Forever is a time related word. It is impossible to describe eternity, timeless eternity, in terms of time. If that sounds confusing, then I have achieved my goal. Eternity is beyond our comprehension.

God created us for His sake, because of His character of love, which needs to be expressed and have an object to receive that love. Love is an expression of relationship, communion, therefor communication is essential. God in His wisdom has communicated in terms we can understand. God came to us in the form of man, Jesus Christ, in order that He could feel what it is like to be human. For the deeper and more mysterious things of His existence He gave us the Holy Spirit to receive those things by faith.

Even with the help of the Holy Spirit man is still a vain creature, trying earnestly to express with words things that cannot be experienced. God created a place called Eden which is outside eternity in which He could commune with His creation. Everything He has done since the fall of Adam was done to restore us to that experience.

Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

No deposit, no return.

Some of you are not familiar with the term no deposit, no return. Google the term and you will discover that at a time when glass was the essential container for drinks, a deposit was paid for the glass. If you took the bottle back to the retailer, you could get the deposit back. If the bottle was sold without this deposit it was marked no deposit, no return. It had no value to the retailer.

2 Corinthians 5:5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (NIV)

Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (NIV)

God the Father has deposited in us Himself, the Holy Spirit, and He will redeem us, not because we are of any value, but for His own sake, He cannot deny Himself.

Ezekiel 20:44a,b You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, (NIV)

If you are in Christ, if the Holy Spirit is in you, He will redeem you. If not….

No deposit, no return.