I know I shouldn’t do this, but when I pick up a book to read, many times I open to the last few pages of the book to see how it ends. Especially when reading novels, this isn’t the best idea, because it ruins to impact of the climatic end of the story. Maybe its impatience, or just curiosity, I don’t know…it is just what I do. Knowing the end of the book helps one get through the difficult parts of the story. The Bible, however, is the kind of book that is good to know the end from the beginning. Within the pages of the different books of the Old Testament, there are a lot of wars, struggles, failures, evil people, etc. There are the stories of the Red Sea parting and Israel being saved from her enemies, but there are not always victories.
The Bible recounts the story of God’s relationship with mankind. It begins with God’s creation and divine purpose for the earth and all of humanity. Then tells how man rebelled against God and went his own way. The destruction that followed was catastrophic. Even nature was affected by the rebellion as man sought to live on this earth without following God’s blueprint. The “spark” of the divine purpose in man flashed out from time to time as certain individuals, such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses, showed that not all was lost. Things could change when man reconnected with God and, through faith, was restored to God’s divine plan. These “lights on a hill” pointed to a final solution that was revealed through the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus the Son of God.
As we read through the pages of the Bible, it is clear that God’s ultimate intention is not only for individual salvation, and forgiveness of sin, but for global restoration. All of nature is waiting for the manifestation of God’s heavenly kingdom here on earth. To be able to cancel the effect of sin and defeat the prince of the rebellion, Jesus had to take upon Himself our guilt and receive our punishment. This was a dark page in the history of mankind. Jesus died a gruesome death on the cross, but the story does not stop there. Jesus knew the end from the beginning. Because He had knew the end of the story, He could endure the cross. Death could not keep Him in the grave. Justice was served and the payment for sin was made. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ rose from the grave.
Victory number 1 was gained. Salvation for man was provided for and made available to all who would believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Now the next challenge: the restoration of all things. The final establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth is the prize redeemed mankind must keep their eyes upon. Sure, the story is not without much drama and adventure; we all must go through difficult times. We many even lose a battle or two along the way, but if we keep our focus on the end we can get through the rough patches. Paul said, in Philippians 3:13b-14: “…But one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
I peeked at the end of the book, and we win! Sin is eradicated. The devil and all his followers are cast into the lack of fire, and the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven to earth. All of creation is renewed by the presence of the Lord, as He reigns supreme overall. If you get bored with the present, or depressed with the intensity of the battle, just read the end of the Book.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Acts 3:19-21; Romans 4:17; Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 12:1-2; Revelation 22:1-5