How Do You Want To End?
I’ve often made a mess of things in my life so I am thankful for new days and fresh starts. As the sun comes up each day, it’s as if God is saying to me “Today is a new day. This is your starting line.
How will you live today?” As they say in life, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” The Apostle Paul didn’t start well. He started as an educated Pharisee and a vicious persecutor of Christians, but he met Jesus and his life was transformed. Paul ended well.
6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NLT)
The Psalmist in Psalm 119:33-40 understood the importance of living well to be able to finish well. He knew to be able to live well and end well he needed to know God and His Word. He prayed for the Lord to teach him and give him understanding. He prayed for obedience, to follow God to the end, knowing that true joy and blessing come from pleasing and obeying God with all his heart. He prayed to delight himself in God; for his focus to be on God’s Truth and not the things of this world. The Psalmist prayed to “fear” God – to have a reverential awe for Almighty God, living a life of surrender, obedience, and service to Him. And he proclaimed his longing, passion, and dependence on the Word of God. He knew that revival and life come from God’s Word.
I am encouraged by reading Psalm 119. The writer is widely thought to be David, a man who sinned, who failed, who really made a mess of things but in the end was known as a “man after God’s own heart”. It seems David found the secret to living well to end well. I am encouraged that David, a sinner just like me, understood that each day, by God’s grace, was a new beginning. A new starting line to run the course God had set before him.
One day, everyone will stand before God. Those who have professed their faith in Jesus Christ and have been faithful to their Lord will hear the words “Well done my good and faithful servant”. In other words, “you’ve lived well and ended well.” As lift my hands in praise, those are the words I want to hear.
33 Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
35 Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
36 Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
37 Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.[a]
38 Reassure me of your promise,
made to those who fear you.
39 Help me abandon my shameful ways;
for your regulations are good.
40 I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness.
Psalm 119:33-40 (NLT)
© 2017 Robin R King
You are one of my girls, also. I loved reading your posting.
Several months ago I was inspired to write my story of How God Rescued Me after doing a Bible study with If Equip. Not sure where to post it but would love to share it with you.