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The End

by Bobbie Jean Merck

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit”
(Ecclesiastes 7:8). 

The end?!

Think on that!  From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 that truth prevails.  In fact, the Bible closes with the words, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen” (Revelation 22:21).  God’s grace, His love, His compassion, and His mercy!

God never fails, and He will never fail us, and neither will His Divine purposes for us ever fail.  Our God reigns!  Jesus Christ is Lord!

Beth received this Overflow issue’s graphic design in September.  The pictures portray the truth of this focus: the end is better than the beginning!  

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory”

(1 Corinthians 2:6-8).

            Had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory!  Why?  Because the end was definitely put in motion and would be accomplished by God.

            His plan had been “to have a people for Himself, His Presence, and His Glory”!  That plan would now be completed, because as Jesus Christ carried out His part of that plan while on earth, now He would have a Body on the earth to perform His will, just as the Head would give direction!

            You and I are members of His body: “bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh; joined unto the Lord, and of one spirit”.  He ever lives at the right hand of God in authority to make intercession for us, that we may be saved to the uttermost, to the end of this life on the earth.  In Him we always triumph, and are more than conquerors!  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).  In Him, the best is yet to come!  Do you believe that?  Do you receive that?  Is that your focus, your thoughts and meditation, your spoken words, and your action?

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

The preparations of God for us cannot be known in the natural.  They can only be known in the spiritual.  God’s goodness, blessings, and benefits for us will not be spoken to or for us on the news media, or from any other worldly source.  Only from God’s Spirit can we know.

This necessitates a strong and determined return to, and commitment to, the Spirit and the Word of God. It requires a resolve on our part.  As it is written in Second Corinthians 4:18, so must it be!  “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  Temporal means temporary, subject to change.  Praise God, it always is! We never give up!

Now is the time to read and assimilate John 17.  Jesus’ intercessory prayer for us shall be fulfilled.  Verses 15-17 are our life and our lifestyle.  “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

Our Lord and Master prayed, “…keep them from the evil”. Did you notice the word the?  The evil?  Evil means labor, sorrow, pain.  Evil is wicked, malicious, and mischievous.  Satan is the author of all the mischief in the world.  The evil is anything that harms and is injurious.  Upon further study one learns it also means bad and worthless.  The Greek word poneria is derived from it and means: aptness to do shrewd turns, to delight in mischief and tragedy, and perverseness.

What a prayer for us!  Jesus, seeing our time, prayed that God would keep us from the evil.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:16 that we are to be those, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”  Evil days are days of affliction, abounding in troubles and persecutions.  In Christ only shall we have peace.  He has overcome the world and we can, too, in Him.  Therefore, as He has redeemed us from the curse, so let us redeem every moment with the blessings God gives us.

Colossians 4:5 tells us to redeem the time by prudent and wise and blameless conduct.  One meaning of prudent is knowledge and wisdom in how to deal with, or respond in, all relationships.  “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5).  Only the Word of God can and should be our standard for this.

Paul gives us a key for godly living in Ephesians 5:15, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise….”  Circumspectly?  Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin spoke to me November 3, 1982 and in the prophetic word he said, “Walk circumspectly before the Lord.”  The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale includes these words as being circumspect: careful, cautious, mindful; guarded, alert, watchful; well-considered, well-judged, well-advised; perceptive and discerning; prudent.

Wise signifies watchmen in the Old Testament.  Watchmen went to mountain tops so they could see all around.  One who is wise knows how to regulate their course in view of the movement of God; and in respect of Truth.  “Thy Word is Truth,” said Jesus in John 17:17.  We see by this, the wise are people who pray and obey the Word, and the Lord.

 “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

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To redeem the time requires that we understand God’s purposes and what He has purposed; and what pleases and gives Him joy.  In understanding, we obey, and have belief.  Therefore, we do enter in to rest.

Verses 18-20 are significant to our worship of God and our well-being.  

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… (Ephesians 5:18-20).

How do we stand firm, stay on track, and stay the course?  This is necessary because, “If your faith does not hold, you will never hold on” (Isaiah 7:9 Moffatt).  But God has given us the way, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle….  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil….  And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:3-5).

One of the most powerful verses in Scripture is Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”  The evil could not keep you from making Jesus Christ your Lord.  Neither can the evil keep you from the blessings God has given you.  Do good and be blessed.

One-hundred and twenty out of five-hundred waited for the Lord Jesus’ mighty outpouring of His Spirit.  The ones who waited were the ones who received.  Will we?

The foremost reason for interceding for the nation of Israel when they rebelled by having unbelief in their hearts, was that God’s Name would be honored in and by His people and in their nation.  Moses asked God to forgive, have mercy on, and save His people from annihilation so that His Name would be known and honored.

That must be our supreme desire: “O God, our Lord, we want Your Name to be honored in the United States of America!  And yes, Lord, in the Church of America.”

In these evil days, the absolute key and necessity for victory is in knowing and honoring the Greatness of God!  All our attention must be prioritized in God’s greatness and His never changing changelessness.  God is faithful!  God must be first in our lives.  Reverence for Him and submission to Him must be foremost in our lives.

God asked in Malachi 1:6, “…where is My honor?...where is my fear?...O priests that despise My Name.”  (We are kings and priests.)

“Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Samuel 2:30).  

They that honor Me, I will honor.

“How do we honor thee, O Lord?  We want to be honored by You!”

The Word is full of directives in how to honor God.  Know the Truth and it will set you free.  The children of Israel could not possess their possessions because they could never let go of their “slave mentality”.  In Christ, you are not a slave, you are a love-servant!

Consider Proverbs 20:3, “It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.”  We must avoid and cease from strife.  God hates strife.  James warns us, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (3:16).

“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”  (Proverbs 3:9,10).  If you get this revelation and do it, these words of wisdom will get you out of debt!

Consider Psalm 15.

Let us honor God!  

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created….  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

(Revelations 4:11; 5:12)

We are saved by hope!  (See Romans 8:24.)  Hope is the desire of some good with the expectation of obtaining it. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).  Let God be glorified!  Let God be honored!  Let God be magnified!  Our God reigns!  Jesus is Lord!

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof…” (Ecclesiastes 7:8a).

Jeremiah 17:5,6 gives a serious warning so that we will not hope or put our trust in man.  “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.  For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited”

But verses 4,8 are Kingdom of God promises to us.

“And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever….  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

Verse 17 declares and we should decree:

 “…thou art my hope in the day of evil.”  Amen.