First Button - Asher Intrater

First Button

By Asher Intrater If one buttons up a shirt and starts with the correct button, then all the others will end up in the right place. If one starts with the incorrect button, in the end, all the buttons will be in the wrong place. So what is the "first button" of the Bible? The whole Bible starts with Genesis 1, in which God creates the physical universe. It is good; and with Man in the Garden of Eden, it is very good. The last chapters of the Bible (Revelation 21-21) describe a new heaven and new earth. If we do not see physical creation as good, then we will interpret the end of the Bible as un-creating what God created. If we do have the first chapter or "button" correct, then we understand the end of the Bible as a restoration of all things (Acts 3:21), a regeneration (Matthew 19:28), a resurrection of nature (Romans 8:21), and a renewal of the "heavens and earth" as in Noah's days (II Peter 3:5-13). The Bible ends with God and Man enjoying fellowship in the renewed heaven and earth, with everything in God's plan for both heaven and earth coming together in Messiah Yeshua (Ephesians 1:10, Colossians 1:20). What about the "first button" of the New Testament? Matthew 1 describes the genealogy of Yeshua, emphasizing His descent from King David. God promised David that his throne would last forever (II Samuel 7:13, 16; Psalm 89:3-4) and increase over the whole earth (Isaiah 9:7; 49:6; Luke 1:32-33). If we miss the first button of the New Testament, describing Yeshua as the Son of David, then Yeshua will never fulfill His destiny as the King of the Jews (John 19:37); never inherit the nations (Psalm 2:8); never bring peace to the earth (Luke 2:14); and never restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). The Bible has a consistent and coherent plan from beginning to end. Let's get all the buttons right, from the first to the last. They all fit together in Yeshua (Jesus) who is the Son of God and the Son of David (Romans 1:3-4), the alpha and the omega, the first and the last (Revelation 1:8).

Our Demise

As I go about my duties at work in the evenings I listen to quite a few of the old hymns of the faith. This is one advantage of working by yourself! And I make good use of the time. Many of the old hymns speak of going to see Jesus, looking upon His face, and spending an eternity with loved ones. Well, there is only one way we are going to get there; either by death or rapture.


I recently came across a short writing by Jonathan Edwards regarding our demise and the passing of loved ones we know. It is very appropriate for me because of my recent bout with heart problems.


" Every Christian friend that goes before us from this world is a ransomed spirit waiting to welcome us to Heaven. There will be the infant of days that we have lost below, through grace to be found above. There is the Christian father, and mother, and wife, and child, and friend, with whom we shall renew the holy fellowship of the saints, which was interrupted by death here, but shall be commenced again in the upper sanctuary, and then shall never end."


" There we shall have companionship with the Patriarchs and fathers and saints of the Old and New Testaments, and those of whom the world is not worthy...And there, above all, we shall enjoy and dwell with God the Father, whom we have loved with all of our hearts on earth; and with Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior, who has always been to us the chief among ten thousands, and altogether lovely; and with the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier, and Guide, and Comforter; and shall be filled with all of the fullness of the Godhead forever!"


Do not ever forget, as Believers, the BEST IS AHEAD OF US!