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THE END NEEDS TO BE BETTER
''Are nt you Israelites the same to Me as the Cushites? Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt, the Phillistines from Caphot and the Arameans from Kir ? " (Amos 9:7)
We have just finished observing the holiday of Passover. For most, this holiday is a time of remembering the way God brought the Jewish people from the bondage of Egypt. But for those of us who understand the greater freedom through faith in Jesus it is a time of great rejoicing.
However, lately I've been troubled, sensing that we've been missing something. I've felt trapped by the structures of the sidur, even restricted by the liturgy, beautiful though it is.
This morning God challenged me through the above verse from Amos.
I believe God was saying that while He defined Himself as the God of Passover, He was warning Israel that even this apex event of their history did not guarantee them favor in God's eyes.
Indeed God warned that He was about to destroy the sinful kingdom from the face of the earth; although He did promise to maintain a remnant.
Unfortunately Israel had forgotten that she had been redeemed for a purpose - service to the Lord their God. The Israelites were to know, love, worship and obey only Him.
Instead their deliverance led to presumptuous sin; their freedom led to murmuring, testing and finally to rebellion. Thus God's anger and repeated warning to remember that Passover was only the beginning of their journey of faith. They were to look beyond their past to the future God had planned for them.
I fear that we have smothered our observances with so many traditions and religiosity that we are overlooking the principle that the journey of faith must begin with a commitment of cost, comfort or circumstances.
Perhaps it is time to stop looking and rejoicing in the past and use the present to prepare us for the future. In that day, God has promised us another celebration through the ultimate Passover Lamb. May we all strive (yes, that's a good Biblical term) to ensure that, by the Lord's grace and the Spirit's empowerment, our end will be better than our beginning!!
His end was better
As I look at the body lying in the coffin, I remembered the hours we spend at the beginning of his journey.
I had met Gary at the Vietnam Veteran center where I was a counselor.
Gary's life was falling apart, both physically and emotionally. When he heard the promises of God through faith in Jesus, he immediately responded.
But the next steps along his journey were very rocky.
In the ensuing 7 years, God truly smoothed out his path and put together the broken pieces of Gary's life.
Knowing death was near, Gary had one burning question, ' Will I get into heaven?''
Looking back at his journey, he was grieved at the energy and time he had spent trying to avoid going further with the Lord. He now perceived as lost opportunities and selfish behavior. What a privilege to remind of the promise of the gospel, '' He who has the Son has life!'' (1 John 5:12)
Gary's response manifested the miracle of true salvation, ''But I feel so unworthy''.
''Gary” I said, “we're not expected to feel worthy, but rather to feel humble and very , very grateful.''
Thank God that I was able to assure him that his end was much better than his beginning. In his last few days he shared the hope that was in him, forgave those who had deeply hurt him, and gave away his love to all who came near.
Once again I was reminded that Jesus is both the Author and Finisher of our faith. It is His faithfulness, strength and grace which allows us all to finish better than when we began.
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