The End?

#1 · December 31, 2006, 10:23 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on December 31, 2006, 10:23 pm
Posted by: goodsandgoodies <goodsandgoodies@...>
The End?

"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" (Isaiah 46:10 )

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)

"But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." (Daniel 12:13)

"But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end." (Matthew 26:58)

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22:13)

As we face the end of one year and the beginning of the next, I find it quite interesting how we human beings are so often short-sighted when we think in terms of what has "ended", what will be the "end" of various things -- even of our own selves, and especially what we seem to think to be the "end" of God's plans for us. However, from the above quoted verses -- not to mention the multitudinous other Scripture portions that could be quoted -- I find that "the End" as God sees it is much more enlightening and thought-provoking.

By no means shall this little Bible Note come anywhere near to scratching the surface of such profound and powerful truths as may be found upon this subject in God's Word; but, we shall take a "peek" at a few concepts that may perhaps help us to see beyond our finite, earth-dimmed visions of what indeed "the End" may be.

(References given above unless otherwise included below)

I. God's Limitless Knowledge

God says that he declares "the end from the beginning", "my counsel shall stand", and "I will do all my pleasure." He knows the future with his all-knowing knowledge. He is not taken by surprise by anything. That's right, even if we make terrible mistakes or have sinned grievously against Him, and many of us have, He knew it would happen beforehand and is not taken off guard. God is prepared beforehand for everything that will happen. I am not even talking about His power and provision, but they are also abundantly able to handle our past, present, and future.

(Note: No, I am not a Calvinist; but, I do believe in God's all-sufficient grace and never-failing promises. No amount of sin, mistakes, or adverse circumstances can change the nature and power of God. I say that if we are lost in Hell, it will not be through some mistake that God makes, for He cannot make a mistake. Neither can Satan somehow trick the Almighty. Satan is limited, but God is all-in-all -- all-powerful AND all-knowing!)

II. God's Loving Kindness and Plans

The above verse from the book of Jeremiah is God's words to Israel in reference to their then-prophesied time of long captivity in the land of Babylon. God promises them that he will turn their captivity and give them a wonderful deliverance, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." What a wonderful insight into the very heart of God!

The principle is the same for each individual today who may have wandered away from the Lord or away from the godly training received when they were young. God loves us and thinks loving thoughts toward us. He wants to bring peace and joy to our hearts by delivering us from all sin and out of the bondage of a cruel task-master (Satan). He longs to give us an "expected end", or, in other words, a desired or desirable end. He wants us to be truly happy in Him and in the shelter of his everlasting arms.

III. The Promise of Lasting Reward

Lest anyone become faint-hearted and begin to feel that the fight for God and for righteousness is in vain, let us remember God's promise to Daniel: "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." It is enough to receive an everlasting reward, is it not? The rewards of this life are generally so very cheap and short-lived.

Many have doubtless heard the story -- which I here tell very briefly -- of the missionary who had spent so many years in a foreign land. He returned to the United States to see his President being welcomed home very grandly from a hunting trip; but, no one welcomed the faithful missionary. Upon arriving at his earthly home, the missionary complained to God about how unfair it was. God reminded him in words something like this: "Son, you are not home yet." Then the missionary knew that a very grand welcome was awaiting him at the great home-coming in the sky, where he would cross over into the city of God.

IV. The Death of our Dreams

Many of us like Peter, have suffered great discouragements in the work of God. Peter truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God; but, he followed Jesus "to see the end". We must at times suffer the apparent death of our hopes and dreams in order that there might be a resurrection -- a mighty miracle of the power of God bringing life out of the lifeless ashes of our own plans and wishes. It is no doubt in times like this that we learn how truly and utterly dependent we are upon God for anything of lasting value. We must know that "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." (Psalm 127:1). Also, if we would reign with Christ, then we must also be crucified with him in a very essential sense down deep in the very center of our hearts.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

V. The Ultimate Assurance

There is something so satisfyingly certain about the fact that Jesus Christ, the very Son of God Himself, has said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." He is not only the One who wrote out a will describing our eternal inheritance, but he is also the One who died so that we might receive it. Furthermore, He is the only One who has ever gotten back up out of His grave so that He might enforce the distribution of His assets to His beneficiaries! (See Hebrews chapter nine)

"Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28) Jesus will return and we shall then receive first hand the wonderful benefits He has promised, and we shall receive them directly from His loving, nail-scarred hands!

Yours in Christ,
Martin Overfield

Please pass this Bible Note along to any who might be interested or helped by it. To SUBSCRIBE to FREE Bible Notes, send an empty email to this address: bible_notes-subscribe@welovegod.org and respond to the confirmation email that will automatically be sent to you.

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Posted by: goodsandgoodies <goodsandgoodies@...>

The End?

"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" (Isaiah 46:10 )

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)

"But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." (Daniel 12:13)

"But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end." (Matthew 26:58)

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22:13)

As we face the end of one year and the beginning of the next, I find it quite interesting how we human beings are so often short-sighted when we think in terms of what has "ended", what will be the "end" of various things -- even of our own selves, and especially what we seem to think to be the "end" of God's plans for us. However, from the above quoted verses -- not to mention the multitudinous other Scripture portions that could be quoted -- I find that "the End" as God sees it is much more enlightening and thought-provoking.

By no means shall this little Bible Note come anywhere near to scratching the surface of such profound and powerful truths as may be found upon this subject in God's Word; but, we shall take a "peek" at a few concepts that may perhaps help us to see beyond our finite, earth-dimmed visions of what indeed "the End" may be.

(References given above unless otherwise included below)

I. God's Limitless Knowledge

God says that he declares "the end from the beginning", "my counsel shall stand", and "I will do all my pleasure." He knows the future with his all-knowing knowledge. He is not taken by surprise by anything. That's right, even if we make terrible mistakes or have sinned grievously against Him, and many of us have, He knew it would happen beforehand and is not taken off guard. God is prepared beforehand for everything that will happen. I am not even talking about His power and provision, but they are also abundantly able to handle our past, present, and future.

(Note: No, I am not a Calvinist; but, I do believe in God's all-sufficient grace and never-failing promises. No amount of sin, mistakes, or adverse circumstances can change the nature and power of God. I say that if we are lost in Hell, it will not be through some mistake that God makes, for He cannot make a mistake. Neither can Satan somehow trick the Almighty. Satan is limited, but God is all-in-all -- all-powerful AND all-knowing!)

II. God's Loving Kindness and Plans

The above verse from the book of Jeremiah is God's words to Israel in reference to their then-prophesied time of long captivity in the land of Babylon. God promises them that he will turn their captivity and give them a wonderful deliverance, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." What a wonderful insight into the very heart of God!

The principle is the same for each individual today who may have wandered away from the Lord or away from the godly training received when they were young. God loves us and thinks loving thoughts toward us. He wants to bring peace and joy to our hearts by delivering us from all sin and out of the bondage of a cruel task-master (Satan). He longs to give us an "expected end", or, in other words, a desired or desirable end. He wants us to be truly happy in Him and in the shelter of his everlasting arms.

III. The Promise of Lasting Reward

Lest anyone become faint-hearted and begin to feel that the fight for God and for righteousness is in vain, let us remember God's promise to Daniel: "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." It is enough to receive an everlasting reward, is it not? The rewards of this life are generally so very cheap and short-lived.

Many have doubtless heard the story -- which I here tell very briefly -- of the missionary who had spent so many years in a foreign land. He returned to the United States to see his President being welcomed home very grandly from a hunting trip; but, no one welcomed the faithful missionary. Upon arriving at his earthly home, the missionary complained to God about how unfair it was. God reminded him in words something like this: "Son, you are not home yet." Then the missionary knew that a very grand welcome was awaiting him at the great home-coming in the sky, where he would cross over into the city of God.

IV. The Death of our Dreams

Many of us like Peter, have suffered great discouragements in the work of God. Peter truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God; but, he followed Jesus "to see the end". We must at times suffer the apparent death of our hopes and dreams in order that there might be a resurrection -- a mighty miracle of the power of God bringing life out of the lifeless ashes of our own plans and wishes. It is no doubt in times like this that we learn how truly and utterly dependent we are upon God for anything of lasting value. We must know that "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." (Psalm 127:1). Also, if we would reign with Christ, then we must also be crucified with him in a very essential sense down deep in the very center of our hearts.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

V. The Ultimate Assurance

There is something so satisfyingly certain about the fact that Jesus Christ, the very Son of God Himself, has said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." He is not only the One who wrote out a will describing our eternal inheritance, but he is also the One who died so that we might receive it. Furthermore, He is the only One who has ever gotten back up out of His grave so that He might enforce the distribution of His assets to His beneficiaries! (See Hebrews chapter nine)

"Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28) Jesus will return and we shall then receive first hand the wonderful benefits He has promised, and we shall receive them directly from His loving, nail-scarred hands!

Yours in Christ,
Martin Overfield

Please pass this Bible Note along to any who might be interested or helped by it. To SUBSCRIBE to FREE Bible Notes, send an empty email to this address: bible_notes-subscribe@welovegod.org and respond to the confirmation email that will automatically be sent to you.

To read Bible Notes on the Internet and/or search the archives click on the following link:
http://welovegod.org/groups/bible_notes/

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12:14) --To unsubscribe, send ANY message to bible_notes-unsubscribe@welovegod.org