Don't Judge a Book By It's Beginning

Seldom is the beginning of a book remembered. Though there are a few notable exceptions, in general, it is either the ending (or outcome) that is remembered or perhaps that the book was well-written that is recalled. The truth is that no matter how well written the beginning of a book if the remainder of the book is poorly written or if the conclusion of the book fails to satisfy, the book is a failure. Yet no matter how poorly the beginning so long as the remainder of the book is remarkable and the ending satisfactory, the book is a success.

So too is it with man. The birth of a person is a remarkable event. In our culture it is often cause for celebration. Not just for the successful carrying to term on the part of the mother nor just for surviving the ordeal but because where there was no one, now there is someone. From a couple of cells now cries forth a fully-formed child.

In front of that child is nothing but potential. Nobody can say what will become of that child, nobody can predict how much potential is realized nor does anyone lament that the child will fall short of their possibilities. It is a bright, new day and an auspicious beginning.

Yet in a scant few years sin will manifest itself in the life of every child. Parents will wonder "where did she learn that?" and "where did that come from?" As sinful behavior begins to become more prominent the beautiful beginning is soon forgotten having been obscured by the present problems.

There then comes a day when the child must choose their path whether to walk towards God or away. For those that choose to walk away the story of their life becomes worse and worse and ends only to continue in agony and despair. No matter how auspicious their beginning nor how well lived their life, the end overshadows all.

For those that choose to walk towards God, they are met on the path and there is salvation. Despite their auspicious beginning, in spite of how poorly they lived their life, everything but their salvation fades into the background in the light of God's presence in their life.

But even at this juncture in their life, salvation is yet another beginning. For each person that answers the knock on the door salvation is followed by sanctification. So the cycle continues. From that point forward, no matter what problems they had encountered or how barren their former life on earth, this life will end only to continue in Glory and peace. The end of their life is better than the beginning.

My study verse today is;

Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NIV)

⁸ The end of a matter is better than its beginning,

and patience is better than pride.

^[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

My wandering analogy is meant only to convey the truth of this passage and to remind me that the outcome cannot be determined by the beginning.

I struggled with the second phrase of this passage striving to understand the juxtaposition. This is where I will leave it;

Patience is looking ahead in anticipation of the ending. It has nothing to do with what has come before and everything to do with what is coming after. It is forward looking.

Pride is looking back at what has occurred and depending upon a repetition of a previous success to overcome what is coming. It is backward glancing.

In this understanding is wisdom and encouragement. Despite my past, I have a future. Despite my beginning I will finish well. The end is better than the beginning.

And so my devotional entry ends. :)

Carl