The End Of A Golden String

THE END OF A GOLDEN STRING

Scripture: Phil 3:7-14

Text: lst Corinthians 13:12 “Now we know in part”

INTRODUCTION

William Blake in is poem entitles Jerusalem says, “I give you the end of a Golden String. Only wind it into a ball. It will lead you into heaven’s gate, built into Jerusalem’s wall”. It is the Golden String of God’s purpose for your life. As you take the end of the string and begin to roll it into a ball, you begin walk. Your path may be difficult, your future obscured, but rest assured, God has his eye upon you.

After Moses died, God came to Joshua and called him to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. God said, “I am with you where ever you go. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you. Be

strong and very courageous.” Joshua took God at his word and began to prepare the people for the crossing of Jordan. Our Lord says to Christians of every generation, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. I will never let you down, so keep on winding. The important question is not my destination, but will my path lead me

there? It is not “when shall I get there” but am I headed in the right direction?

I. Am I Following The Golden String?

One of the great tragedies of our world is that so many people have no goal in mind and take the path of least resistance. They are like the

multitudes of Jesus today, “Sheep without a shepherd wandering aimlessly about.”

Paul had a goal and he set both heart and face in that direction. He was aiming for Christ likeness and although he was coming down the

home stretch he did not slacken his pace nor look behind. He was aiming toward the goal and determined to cross the finish line a winner.

He had not arrived but he was upon is way. His heart was in it. Paul’s determination to win reminds me of the little boy who was a contestant in a race. He was off to a good start and was ahead of the others. As

he came down the home stretch, his lips were moving. Later when asked what he was saying, he said, “I was praying Lord you pick them up and I’ll put them down”. The Lord picked them up and he put them down so fast that he won the race. Paul might have prayed “Lord you pick them up and I’ll put them down, for he crossed the finish line a winner.

Our Lord spent much of His time on the road and he gave us a religion for the road. He had a word for the smooth road, for the folks who were wealthy and blessed over abundantly. He did not condemn

riches. He said rather “Take heed. Beware of deceitfulness of riches”. Riches may bring us a false sense of security. We may depend on them instead of the Lord, Riches do not guarantee happiness. Then Jesus gave us a word for the rough road. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Don’t go to pieces. Commit thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain you”. Go forward with a quiet heart. Keep winding your golden string. Jesus gave us a word for the end of the road. “Igive unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish and no man is able to steal them from me”.

In the book “The Last Hundred Days”, John Toland tells of an incident that took place in World War II when Dwight Eisenhower was with the troops of the 30th Infantry Division. As the General walked among the

soldiers before the crossing of the Rhine River he met a solider who was extremely nervous and scared. He said unto him, “Soldier, how are you feeling?” The young man said “General I’m awful nervous. I was

wounded two months ago and not released from the hospital until yesterday, and I don’t feel well.” Ike said “I’m nervous too, we’ve planned the crossing for a long time. We’ve got all the planes, guns, and troops we can use. Maybe if we walked to the river together it would help both of us. Deeply moved and encouraged by the General’s offer, the soldier said, “I’m not nervous anymore and I guess it isn’t so bad around here afterall!”

As we come down the home stretch it is encouraging to know that there is one on the road beside us, one who has promised to be always with us no matter what. God has a purpose for each of us and with the purpose goes the promise of his presence.

II. Secondly, We start with only the end of that Golden String