Start With the End in Mind
In eight different flights over a two week period, I traveled over large sections of the Western United States. At an altitude of 40,000 ft. on a clear day, I viewed the Earth with a sense of awe. It was beautiful. It was grand. This was God’s creation, not man’s. My vision and understanding was expanded considerably.
However, on one of the flights, thick clouds covered the Earth for over 600 miles and I could see very little. My vision was clouded and my understanding of that which lay below me was very limited. It reminded me of something my Dad told me as a child. “You don’t understand because you can’t see the forest for the trees.”
Such is life. God knows the end from the beginning, but our vision is limited. We can’t see what He sees. Our vision is clouded and limited by what lies immediately around us. We can’t see the end that God has prepared for those who are faithful, obedient, and endure to the end. But He has expanded the vision of prophets such as Adam, Abraham, Moses, Peter, John, and others, revealing to them the beginning to the end of this Earth, and more importantly His purpose and the glorious destiny that may be ours, even Immortality and Eternal Life. (Mark 10:17, Moses 1:39)
But our Father in Heaven has not left us without guidance and the means to enlighten our vision and enhance our understanding. He has given us his Son, Jesus Christ, the gospel of salvation he taught, prophets and scripture to guide us. He has also given us his Holy Spirit as a guide to light our way. We can plan our lives with an end in mind, preferably the same end our Heavenly Father wants for us and has prepared for the faithful.
So let’s not be lost souls wandering in the wilderness of life with no direction. Decide today what you want out of this life. Begin with the end in mind, and then do that which is needed to make it happen. Shape your own destiny, keeping in mind that with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) However, what you make of it is your individual responsibility, no one else’s, and ultimately at the day of judgement you alone will be held accountable.
May I relate the “end” envisioned and shared with me by two men. The first spoke of what he hoped could be said about him at his funeral, the end of his mortal life. “1) He was able to render service of worth to his fellowman. 2) He had a fine family. 3) He evidenced unshakable faith in God and lived accordingly.” The second spoke of what he would like to hear from the Lord upon seeing him in the next life. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matthew 25:21)
May we all be able to live our lives with a purposeful and joyful end in mind.
