The End

THE BIG IDEA: What if you lived every day with the end in view? What if you fast-forwarded your life story tape to the end, to that day when another will stand before a crowd at a memorial service to eulogize your days on earth? What if you transported in your mind to that day in the end of all ends when you stand before God to give account for the breath of life He’d loaned you for the 70, 80, or 90 years of your earthly pilgrimage? What you want said of you at the end by another person and more importantly by God means that you’ve got to rewind the tape to the present and begin now to live with the end in view! You see, the end is nothing more than a compilation of the motives, thoughts, attitudes, habits, words, and actions that have issued from your head, heart, and hands moment by moment throughout all the days of your life.

Meditation // Proverbs 14:1

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

The end! Hate to break this to you, but it’s coming faster than you think!

So, what if you lived every day of your life with the end in view? What if you fast-forwarded your life story tape to the end, to that day when another will stand before a crowd at a memorial service to eulogize your days on earth? What if you transported in your mind to that awesome and fearful day in the end of all ends, when you, along with all mankind, stand before the Righteous Judge to give account for the breath of life he’d loaned you in this life?

What you want said of you then, at the end, by man, and more importantly, by God, means that you’ve got to back the tape back up to the present and begin to live that way now—to live with the end in view!

What do you hope will be said of you then—in the end?

Here’s the thing, my friend: What you want said of you then, at the end, by man, and more importantly, by God, means that you’ve got to back the tape back up to the present and begin to live that way now—to live with the end in view! The end is nothing more than a compilation of the motives, thoughts, attitudes, habits, words, and actions that have issued from your head, heart, and hands moment by moment throughout all the days of your life. They add up. They count. They form a pattern. They create the trend that is your life. They tell your story. So be careful with the material you give them, because it will come out in the end.

Yes—there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it produces only death. On the other hand, there is a way that is right—right in the sight of God—and in the end, it leads to life.

We’re all headed for the end, that’s for sure, so let’s just make sure the reputation that gets there ahead of us will be celebrated by both God and man.

Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

The end!

What Now If you knew that you had exactly one week to live, what would be the first five things you would put on your “To Do” list? Why not go ahead and do them?