Gtcotr/ss123012
Habakkuk 2
2 Then the LORD answered me
and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he
may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is
yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Throughout
the Bible God calls attention to beginnings and endings. (Genesis – Revelation)
At the end of the book of Revelation we read:
Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end, the first and the last.
I am Alpha & Omega Beginning and End, the
First and the Last … The scriptures also say that we should:
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
“Look
to Jesus who is both the Author and the Finisher of our faith …” and that:
Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the
beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
We
are “Made partakers of Christ”, if we keep on holding on to the very first act
of our faith, which is the salvation of our soul, unto the very end.
Furthermore
we are told that:
Isaiah 46:10 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:
“God
knows the end from the beginning and has known from the ancient days the things
which are yet to be done …” And, He has
decided that when it is all said and done, He is going to end up “pleased” with
the outcome.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the
beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the
proud in spirit.
For
some reason it seems that God has a greater consideration for end of a thing
more than the beginning thereof. And He evidently thinks more of those who
exhibit patience than of those who are proud and hasty in spirit.
Suffice it to say,
God appreciates a good finish.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of
Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.
In
fact, Jesus said that He was all about finishing the work of God.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He
said, It is finished: and he bowed His
head, and gave up the ghost.
This
He did on the Cross of Calvary when He took upon Himself the sins of the world
and completed the work of redemption. “It is finished!”
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my
life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the
ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God.
The
Apostle Paul took this same mind unto himself when after continual physical
hardships and overwhelming persecution he declared that he was not going to be
moved but would “finish his course with joy” as a testimony to the grace of
God. What a testimony it is.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith:
Right
near the end of the Apostle’s life he wrote to his son in the faith and told
Timothy that he had fought a good fight and “finished his course” and kept the
faith which had once been delivered to him in Christ Jesus.
Both
heaven and earth, as well as each one of us, appreciate a good finish. We know
first impressions are important but we also realize that:
Last
impressions are lasting impressions.
At
first impression Judas Iscariot was chosen from the multitudes, and a whole
host of disciples, to become an Apostle of the Lamb. (Mark 3:14) Jesus chose
Judas along with the other 11 to be with Him and to send him out to preach.
However, first impressions can be deceptive …
I
don’t mean to be critical, judgmental or insensitive but only stating the fact
that the beginning of a thing reveals little if any substance of the
outcome of the matter … however … the end speaks for itself just as our text
for today declares. (Write the vision down – wait – in the end it will speak)
This is just the way of life -
·
Abraham’s
promise of being a father of many nations spoke louder at the end than at the
beginning.
·
Moses’
declaration that God had sent him as a deliverer spoke louder after they
crossed the Red Sea than before.
·
Joseph’s
dream spoke louder at 110 than when he first told it at 17
·
David
being anointed to be King over all Israel spoke louder at the end than at the
beginning (BTW – it was a long road in between)
·
Ruth’s
commitment to her mother-in-law spoke louder at the end of her life than when
she first made that committment.
·
The
sacrifice of Mary’s alabaster box of fragrant oil spoke louder in the end than
it did when she first used it to anoint Jesus.
From
Judas to Zacchaeus, from the young rich ruler to those spoken of in the parable
of the talents in Matthew 25 … last impressions are lasting impressions and
finishing well is important. We may
never get the new thing right if we do not finish the old thing well.
Finishing well may be more important than we first realized.
How
can we know if we are finishing well? The truth is: Only God can measure
success and only He can say “well done” in the end.
Finishing
well boils down to one thing – Pleasing God!
Pleasing
God is the result of:
1. What we believe
a.
Without faith it is impossible to please God
– Hebrews 11:6
b.
What do we believe?
i. we believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word
ii. we believe that Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God and
the only eternal payment for sin.
2. Who we worship
a.
We know Who we worship – John 4:22
b.
Who do we worship?
i. we worship Jehovah Almighty, the One True Eternal God
ii. we do not worship our faith, our money, our nation, our
comfort, our families or our future – all of these are important but we worship
Jehovah alone.
Luke 4:8
And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it
is written, ’You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall
serve.’"
3. Why we work
a. Why do we work?
i. because the harvest
is plentiful only the laborers are few
ii. because they will
not know if someone does not tell them
iii. because faith
without corresponding action is dead
iv. because in the end
why we do what we do will speak …
Matthew
25:14ff … His lord said to him, “Well done,
good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will
make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord … inherit the
kingdom … for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me
drink; … stranger … naked … sick … in prison …”
How
can we finish well – Ask yourself: Do I trust Him? Who or what do I worship?
Why am I a committed Christian? – Determine to be pleasing to God and finish
2012 well so that you can begin the New Year right with God. Finish well,
please God, in all you do … the end will speak!
