HOLD ON TO THE END
ECCLESIASTES 7:7-8
. connected with Ec 7:7. Let the "wise" wait for "the end," and the "oppressions" which now (in "the beginning") perplex their faith, will be found by God’s working to be overruled to their good. "Tribulation worketh patience"
In the beginning there may be oppression, heartache, and tears, but for the saints of God that’s not the end.
Psalms 30
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Weeping endureth for the night- but that’s not the end. In the beginning you may do some weeping, but in the end joy is coming in the morning.
We should not be too much elated with the prosperous beginning of the world, but rather wait to see the final end; since many a work has began with gladness and ended in sorrow, while "they that sow in tears shall reap in joy."
Psalms 73
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
That was the beginning. But then he went to the sanctuary and saw the end of the wicked. He saw when the wicked ceased from prospering never to arise again.
This old world may be rocking in pleasure, but in the end they are going to pass away forever.
You say my burdens are so heavy. My troubles are so great.
When Paul started out, they wanted to kill him. You will find the many times he was beaten, stoned, and ship wrecked. If you stop reading there, you will say what a sad story. But that’s not the end.
At the end of Paul’s life, we have his words.
2 Timothy 4
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
He held on to the end and he found a crown of life. He kept the faith until the end.
There may be high mountains you have to climb.
They may be dark lonely valleys you have to walk thru.
There may be times of suffering.
But hold on until the end.
2 Timothy 2
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
1 Peter 4
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
There will be times when you will be persecuted.
There will be a cross you will have to carry.
Luke 9
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
The enemy will tell you there is no way you can win.
Things will never get any better.
God will lead you to no waters He cannot part, no brink He cannot cross, no pain He cannot bear.
George Washington fought nine major battles in the Revolutionary War. He lost six of these battles but won the war.
When the battle is over we shall wear a crown.
Romans 8
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
You may be hurting now. Life may have left you wounded.
Don’t look around and give up the faith. But with eyes of faith, look toward the east.
Malachi 4
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
In the beginning you are hurting- but in the end there is healing.
When we get to our lowest point, we think that is the end.
But that is not always true.
John 11
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
John 11
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
If we are not careful we can get so wrapped up in our unbelief that we miss the glory of God.
That’s what happened to the children of Israel. They always thought they had reached their end because of their unbelief. They could not enter the promise land.
John 11
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
You say my children are so far from God. They have been lost for years. Deep in sin. But that doesn’t have to be the end of the story. Ring the prayer bells of heaven.
You say my life has been a wreck. One failure after the other. My life seems ruined. That doesn’t have to be the end of your story. God allows U-turns!
Paul started out a murderer, and a persecutor of the church. But in the end, he died as Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ.
It doesn’t matter how you started. It’s doesn’t matter what you have done in the past. If you will just turn around. You will say the end is better than the beginning.
I don’t know what you are facing. But if you will just grab hold of the faith and hold on to the end, you will say the end is better than the beginning.
The world thinks this world is the end. This is all there is to life. But this world is not the end.
John 14
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
The world believes the grave is the end. Death will end it all. But I have good news for you who have love ones that have passed on. The grave is not the end.
1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I may not know when the end is going to be.
I may not be able to tell you just how much longer you have to hold on.
But there is one thing I can tell you.
Galatians 6
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Matthew 24
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
