In the End, We Win

Isaiah 46:10 “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”

Today, with the Digital Video Recorder (aka DVR) on our cable TV, we are able to schedule through the remote control and tape our favorite shows and sporting events for watching at a later date and time. That sure comes in handy when we are away from home for various reasons, where we used to have to miss the show or events completely, unless we taped it on the old VHS. Now, we actually record shows, even if we are home, and watch them later so that we can fast-forward through the commercials and either cut down the time in front of the tube to do other things (like write Blogs) or so we can watch more shows and events. One of our sons actually starts recording a show, then waits about fifteen minutes before starts watching the show, while it is still recording on the DVR at the same time. By doing this, he zips through the commercials and catches up with the real time broadcast of the show right at the very end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

Part of the problem of recording a sporting event is that most do not want to know the outcome of the game prior to watching it. To hear or see the final score would ruin their experience, so they avoid the newspaper, TV news and even friends who want to tell them about the game: “You should of seen the “buzzer-beater” shot, that “header” into the goal”, that “walk off” homer, that “hail-Mary’ pass, that defected puck off the stick, that last "lap", that final "set" or last "round", et cetera. But some sports fanatics watching a taped sporting event prefer to know the outcome of the game prior to watching because when they know that their team is going to win the game in the end, they can relax with a big bowl of popcorn and a nice cold drink, and enjoy the game, because even if the team is losing at half time, or behind with only one minute left on the clock, they know that in the end, they win.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

What a great picture of how the Christian shall look at the world and this life today ... not in the fear of war, terror, crime, evil, and sin, but through the eyes of ultimate victory despite the circumstances. In God’s plan of time, events and history, we’re only in the second half, the third period or the fourth quarter. Life is not a game. There are seriously issues and situations that demand our careful consideration and concern daily. The road that we are on in this journey can be hard, rocky, hilly, muddy, with obstacles and hazards all along the path, but all roads lead to a destination. The Christian knows that heaven is the purpose, aim and end of this pilgrimage on earth; and the Lord not only has prepared a dwelling place for us there to be with him (John 14:1-30), but is with us all along the way (Matthew 28:20b). Lots of nasty, evil, scary and tragic things happen this side of eternity because of sin, but by knowing the Lord and how the game of life ends, we don’t have to fear anything except fear itself (FDR); it’s like water on a duck because if we go down, we go up. We’ve turned to the last page of the Holy Bible and know the end of the greatest story ever told already. We know how the game will end.

Revelation 22:12-17 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

I've read the end of the book and in the end, we win! Do we live like it?

In Christ, Brian