Finishing Is Better Than Starting

The Bible says that the end of a matter is better than its beginning. We need to be careful that we do not start well but end the wrong way. There are many people who started off well but along the way fall off. Our walk with God is a daily walk; we have to choose daily to follow Christ and obey God. Finishing is better than starting.

We have to purpose to do what is right and true and work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

We really never “arrive” in our journey of faith until we leave this world. As such, we are to remain sober-minded and be watchful so that we do not miss the mark along the way. Remember, finishing is better than starting.

The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecclesiastes 7:8.

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8.

There are many people who confess to be Christians yet their way of life proves otherwise. There are many church-goers who have no personal walk with the Lord. Many have fallen into the trap of religiosity and have forgotten that it is not doing all the religious things that will take them to heaven; it is Jesus Christ who is the way to God the Father.

Many who profess to be Christians live a carnal life to the extent that they cannot be differentiated from the world. Sadly, many will hear on that Day, “I never knew you.” Purpose to finish well; finishing is better than starting.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23.

There are others who start off hot for Jesus Christ but along the way they get entangled with the pleasures and cares of the world.

Many who were faithful servants of Jesus Christ have fallen off along the way. Some have been ensnared by money and riches and have become lovers of money and what money can buy. Their hearts have been diverted from their first love, Jesus Christ. Do not be distracted in your walk of faith; finishing is better than starting.

Money in itself is not bad but the moment a person makes pursuit of money and riches their top priority, then they end up turning money into their god. Anything or anyone that we place above God in our lives becomes an idol.

Now he who received the seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13:22.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17.

Pride has led to the downfall of many. When a heart becomes haughty, arrogant, and full of pride, that is usually the start of the downfall of such a person. God hates pride.

There are many who start off humble but once they get lifted up, they become haughty. Such start seeing themselves as above others and they look down on others.

Pride makes a person not heed to correction and instruction. It makes a person think that they are above correction and because of that, they end up continuing in their error. When a person reaches that point where they do not listen to anything, even when corrected with love in accordance with God’s Word, then they start going down a destructive path. Finishing is better than starting.

A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. Proverbs 29:23.

Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Proverbs 8:33.

We need to remain humble before the Lord. When we err, we are to be humble enough to admit and confess our mistakes or sins, and when we do, God is merciful enough to forgive us. God loves a humble heart. Let us not be people who stubbornly refuse to ask for forgiveness or acknowledge our wrongs. Instead, may we people who are meek, who ask for forgiveness and acknowledge our wrongs, and repent before the Lord.

When David sinned, he humbled himself before God and repented.

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” 2 Samuel 12:13.

If protecting your public image is more important to you than being right with God, then woe unto you. Sadly, there are many people who are driven by the desire to be famous, to be liked and accepted by people, or to gain people’s approval. Such end up going to great extents to protect their image and how they are perceived by people.

In an effort to gain people’s praise, validation, and acceptance, many have ended up veering off the narrow path. Do not be one of them; finishing is better than starting.

Many have sold their souls to the devil in an attempt to be famous or rich; what an extremely unwise decision to make. The human soul is priceless; it took the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to save us from eternal condemnation.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37.

We need to understand that the devil does not care about us; his only aim is to kill, steal, and destroy. Do not trade eternity with fleeting things of the world; if you do, you can be sure that you will regret it.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10.

Never think that you are too strong a Christian that you can never fall; that is pride. We are fully dependent on God, and without Him, we would be destroyed. Thank God for His grace and mercy. If you know what is right and true, then do it.

Never put yourself in a position where you willingly sin against the Lord, and never take the grace of God for granted.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12.

Many have sadly compromised their relationship with God in order to meet their carnal desires. Many, knowing very well what God’s Word says about their particular situation, have chosen to disobey God, and sadly have paid a great price because of that.

If achieving what you desire is more important to you than obeying God, then sadly you have made that desire an idol, and if you choose to continue pursuing it outside of God’s will, then when you finally get it, it will become like a snare and an agent of pain and destruction in your life.

Anything done or acquired outside of God’s will is never worth it.

If you have to disobey God in order to achieve anything in life, then that is a big red flag that what you are pursuing is not God’s will. Even things or people that appear seemingly nice on the outside can be like a trap for you; if you have to go outside of God in order to acquire them, then you can be sure it will end in pain and destruction unless you repent.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:4-6.

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.

When something is God’s will, then it aligns with His Word and is acquired in a right and true manner. We need to learn to submit our desires unto the Lord and only desire to have what God wants for us. If something is not of God, then it is not worth it and you should not desire to have it in your life.

No matter how attractive an offer or an opportunity or a person is, if that is not God’s will for you and does not align with His Word, then have nothing to do with that thing or that person.

We have to reach a point where we make the decision to obey God in everything no matter the personal cost to us. Do not be among those who start well but fall off along the way. Desire and pursue to be among the few who start well and end even better. Run the race of faith well to the very end and keep the faith. Finishing is better than starting.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

Blessings.

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