Better Is The End

Better Is The End

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof….

Ecclesiastes 7:8

We are arriving, day by day to the end of the year. So also, by degrees we are coming to the end of this little work, which has, as its’ object the encouragement of the people of God. Solomon wisely observed, ‘Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof….’  How may we best understand this? Allow me, please, to suggest several things. We may begin life under duress, beset by grave difficulties, yet God, in His abundant Mercy brings us ultimately to His desired haven. We may journey through life and in that journey encounter hardships of every stripe and variety, yet God upholds us through all of them. Christ, Our Shepherd, has led us every step of our pilgrim pathway. Although we have encountered the wolves which seek to destroy the flock; the giants who defy the God of Israel; the lions and bears who seek to tear and devour, yet Christ has been our Ever Sure Defender. He has delivered us on every occasion thus far. As Paul came to the end of his earthly journey, he testified, ‘And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and shall preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.’ In every way we can conceive, because we are in Christ, we have reason to look forward to the end of things. The end of sanctification is Christlikeness; the end of this life is the beginning of unbroken fellowship with Christ; the end of the age is the beginning of eternity in the Kingdom. Yes, ‘Better is the end, of a thing than the beginning.’ Thank you, dear Reader, for your attention to the end of this thing.

O, Great Shepherd of the sheep, You have led us safely thus far.
We praise You for Your grace and favor, in upholding us through all our pilgrim pathway.
We look forward to that great day, when we shall see You Face to face,
and all the trials of this life, and all its’ tribulations, end in glory.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice