Begin with the end in mind.” – Stephen R. Covey
Jean de la Fontaine (1621-1695), a French writer who collected and published Aesop’s Fables, recognized the importance of “the moral of the story.” Fascinated with life lessons, he observed that “In everything one must consider the end.”
There’s two ways to interpret “the end.” One is to see it as the last act or final moment. The other is to understand it as a purpose or intention. Both of these meanings apply to our commitment to discipleship. We follow the Lord with the knowledge that the work we do in Christ will finish one day. But this realization doesn’t dampen our enthusiasm. We stick with our calling no matter what because we aim to fulfill God’s plans for our lives.
Last week we learned how Jesus had prophesied to the apostle Peter that his ministry would begin in freedom but end in bondage. In response, the apostle yearned for the Christians he would leave behind to thrive in his inevitable absence. Like Jesus, he prioritized the wellbeing of others over his own.
This week, we’ll begin examining the ways Paul dealt with the end of his ministry.
Two Principles
“‘And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. … 38What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.’” – Acts 20:22-24, 38
This passage is an excerpt of a speech Paul delivered to the elders of the Ephesian church when he was leaving them to head back to Jerusalem. The apostle traveled with advance notice, given by the Holy Spirit, that trouble awaited him. Not only in Jerusalem; everywhere! But at least God had warned him!Paul responded to these prophecies by maintaining his commitment to evangelism. The end or purpose of his life was to fulfill the God-ordained task of preaching the gospel. If that duty cost him his life, so be it. He wouldn’t quit.
The Ephesian elders grieved over the news that they would see him no more, and that must have weighed on Paul’s heart. But he would not change his mind. Although this phase of his ministry was concluding, he kept looking forward to what lay ahead.
Two quick lessons here for us.
Prophecy
First, we should be grateful for divine guidance. The Holy Spirit told Paul about the troubles he’d face but he didn’t argue with Him about them. Before starting this blog series, I’d written several posts about hearing God. It’s easy to presume that everything the Lord tells us will be blessings and breakthroughs, but that wasn’t Paul’s experience. If we want to hear the voice of God, we have to prepare ourselves to listen sometimes to daunting stuff. The price of serving Jesus!
Emotions
Second, let’s not get surprised by emotional resistance. It’s natural to rebel against trials but it’s spiritual to prevail in the midst of them. We can’t allow our feelings or the feelings of others determine what we do; the will of God is our chief concern. We can appreciate how much others care for us, but in the end, we must obey the Lord.
Two Principles Again
“After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says, “In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.”’ 12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’” – Acts 21:10-14
The scene changed but the underlying elements remained in effect. The Holy Spirit continued to prophesy and the church persisted in sadness.
But Paul stood undeterred. He was ready to handle the end–of his ministry, of his life. The only thing he’d never give up? His pledge to the name of Jesus Christ.
To sense the voice of the Lord in your heart is one thing; to hear the words of a prophet is another. God spoke to Paul in subjective and objective ways to clarify his future. The difficulty and turmoil he’d encounter was unavoidable but Paul never caved. If it cost him his life, he would stay loyal to the good news of Jesus.
Application
As Stephen Covey recommends, we should begin every undertaking with the end in mind. But getting started isn’t enough; we have to continue with the end in mind. This is Paul’s advice for the Christian life in general.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.” – Colossians 2:6
Discipleship begins with the end in mind–new life in the kingdom of God–and progresses that way, too. And the Lord Jesus will provide for us the wisdom we need to deal with obstacles and manage sentiments in our journey. He travels with us.
“For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” – Psalm 48:14
Have a blessed Good Friday and a joyful Easter Sunday! Jesus died for us and He lives for us!
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